Iraqi Initiative for Ocalan’s Freedom: Turkish officials must respond to Leader's call

The Iraqi Initiative for Ocalan’s Freedom issued a statement regarding the historic appeal made by Leader Abdullah Ocalan on February 27. The statement read:

"On February 27, 2025, Mr. Ocalan delivered an important message through the delegation that visited him in his cell on Imrali Island. This message was of great significance to the global community, which has come to expect from Leader Ocalan much regarding democracy, freedom, and peace, as well as the creation of a society that moves away from conflicts and wars that fail to find humane solutions, instead escalating the struggle between warring parties and ultimately reaching no resolution, leaving the language of arms as the dominant voice.

What this message conveyed was a call and an appeal for the dissolution of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), the abandonment of arms, and a shift toward political struggle. These transformations are imposed by the rapidly changing circumstances that require all parties to reconsider their policies. With this approach, Leader Ocalan has placed the ball in the court of the Turkish authorities, who continue to occupy large portions of Iraqi territory, with more than 49 military bases in the Kurdistan Region.

Following Leader Ocalan’s declaration of peace and love among communities that have suffered greatly from war, Erdogan no longer has any justification for maintaining his forces in Iraq. The Turkish authorities must withdraw all their military and security forces from northern Iraq. The same applies to Syria. Turkey must respect the sovereignty of neighboring countries and respond to Mr. Ocalan’s call for peace by moving away from military solutions in addressing the Kurdish issue.

We, at the Iraqi Initiative for Ocalan’s Freedom, view the statements by the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs as positive, as well as the remarks made by the President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, who supported Ocalan’s initiative. This is because it represents the best path to resolving all issues in the region away from the language of arms.

Any peaceful initiative that has a positive impact on Iraq is welcomed by the Iraqi people everywhere. The reaction of the Iraqi public was appropriate, as they received the initiative positively from a political and social perspective, recognizing Ocalan’s message as highly significant in this extremely complex situation.

We, at the Iraqi Initiative for Ocalan’s Freedom, call on Turkish officials to respond to leader Ocalan’s appeal and to establish the legal and political foundation for it. They must not miss the opportunity to achieve peace between the Kurdish and Turkish peoples, given its direct positive impact on Iraq and neighboring countries in general.

At the same time, we appreciate Ocalan’s initiative to resolve the Kurdish issue through peaceful and political means based on the construction of an ethical, democratic, and political society."

A-H

ANHA