Intellectuals: Kurdish Freedom Movement’s step represent key to democratic solution

Earlier, on July 11, a symbolic ceremony for the burning of weapons was held in an area near Sulaymaniyah in Southern Kurdistan, expressing the movement’s commitment to a path of peaceful struggle.

Intellectuals from Til Temir, in the Jazira Canton, view these two recent steps by the Kurdish Freedom Movement as a historic turning point in its political and military strategy, practically embodying the principles advocated by Abdullah Öcalan—liberation through thought and self-organization rather than armed confrontation.

Aihan al-Younes, a teacher and member of the Union of Intellectuals in Til Temir, told ANHA Agency: “By publicly burning their weapons, the Freedom Forces of Kurdistan have chosen the path of intellectual freedom over armed conflict. They have affirmed that dialogue is the key to resolution—and the key to that dialogue is the release of Abdullah Ocalan.”

She added that the organized withdrawal of the Freedom Forces from the Turkish border to Southern Kurdistan reflects the movement’s readiness for a new phase of political struggle, away from direct military conflict, and opens the door to diplomatic initiatives urging the international community to support peaceful solutions.

Al-Younes emphasized that this withdrawal does not represent a retreat but rather a repositioning within a new struggle based on ideology and self-organization.

Intellectual Hassan Shandi Oso stated: “The recent steps by the Kurdish Freedom Movement will not attain their full political and humanitarian meaning unless leader Abdullah Ocalan’s physical freedom is achieved. His continued imprisonment contradicts every value of dialogue and justice.”

He continued: “ Leader Ocalan is the architect of the project that inspired these transformations. His release is not merely a demand but a historic necessity for achieving just peace in Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. The time has come for Turkey to listen to reason and end his isolation.”

Oso affirmed that all steps taken by the Kurdish Freedom Movement derive their meaning from leader Ocalan’s thought, and that his physical freedom is the fundamental condition for any genuine peace process in Turkey and the region.

Khadija Asim Ibrahim, another member of the Union of Intellectuals in Til Temir, stated: “ The leader laid the foundations for the intellectual transformation within the Kurdish Freedom Movement. His freedom today represents the true entry point for sustainable peace, as it would unleash dialogue and democratic resolution. No political process can succeed while he remains in total isolation.”

She stressed that Turkey must approach these developments seriously and move to end leader Ocalan’s isolation, noting that continuing to detain him while the movement renounces armed struggle exposes a lack of genuine intent for peace.

The intellectuals concluded that the physical freedom of leader Ocalan is the first prerequisite for achieving genuine peace in the region.

 His continued isolation means the continuation of policies of war and denial of rights. With the Kurdish Freedom Movement’s latest initiatives, hopes are renewed that the coming period will witness greater political and popular mobilization demanding an end to his isolation and securing his release—thus realizing the freedom and justice for which he has long struggled.

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ANHA