Intellectuals: Leader Ocalan’s freedom is essential for peace

Poet and member of the Tal Tamr Intellectuals Union, Nalin Al-Younis, stated:

"Since leader Ocalan’s historic peace initiative, there has been no positive response from Turkey. On the contrary, it continues its military offensives against legitimate defense zones and North and East Syria."

 "The Turkish state must take concrete measures on the ground. As a gesture of good faith, it should halt its military actions and release the leader from Imrali prison so he can lead the peace process himself," al-Younis added.

 "Initiative serves all parties"

 Educator and cultural activist Khalil Ali emphasized the strategic significance of leader Ocalan’s peace initiative, stating that it offers viable solutions not only for Turkey but for the broader Middle East—solutions capable of ending one of the region’s most protracted conflicts.

He noted that a sincere and full implementation of this initiative is in Turkey’s own interest and could pave the way for long-term stability.

Ali added:"The Turkish government should bring the leader's proposals into public discourse, allowing society to engage freely with the concept of peace, beyond official narratives and hardline policies."

 Poet Omar Sheikhmous, the member of the Intellectuals Union in Derbasiyah, pointed out that leader Ocalan and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) have repeatedly initiated peace proposals, but the Turkish state has failed to respond seriously.

He further stated: "The leader’s continued imprisonment is unjustifiable under Turkish law, as his legal detention period has expired. He must be released immediately."

Sheikhmous stressed that Turkey has yet to take any tangible steps toward a peace process. To build trust with the Kurdish people and political actors, Ankara must act decisively and adapt to the rapidly shifting dynamics of the Middle East.

He concluded:"The leader is a symbol of peace and holds a sacred position among the Kurdish people. Without ending his isolation and granting him physical freedom, no genuine progress in the peace process can be achieved."

 Calls for a shift in Turkish policy

 The intellectuals warned that continued military campaigns and the refusal to engage in political dialogue will only deepen the crisis in Turkey and the region. They urged Ankara to adopt a rational and courageous approach that begins with opening a new chapter with the Kurdish people—starting with the release of Abdullah Ocalan.

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ANHA