Leader Abdullah Ocalan: committee’s report must reflect fundamental facts of society

A delegation from the Imrali Party of Equality and Democracy of Peoples (DEM Partî) visited Leader Abdullah Ocalan on 16 February 2026. The meeting lasted about three and a half hours.

The statement included key evaluations from Leader "APO" as follows:

Meeting to Begin Democratic Integration

“My life, since my first uprising within the family until today, has moved at a rapid pace, and it continues. The stage we have left behind has moved, in summary, from a policy of violence and discrimination toward democratic politics and integration, which confirmed our strength and our negotiability.

The report of the council’s committee must be based on the fundamental social facts. This aspect of the committee’s report will be very important for the future development of this stage. Policies that approach the issue with the logic of ‘eliminating terrorism’ are not a solution; they express a lack of solution.

The stage of peace and democratic society is a stage that continuously reassesses itself and determines its strategies and tactics. I regard our meeting as a meeting to begin democratic integration. I take this opportunity to once again honor our comrade Seri Surya Önder with great respect; for me, he was a very valuable companion and herald.

This Republic Was Not Established Without the Kurds

The stage that moved toward establishing the republic was built on the unity of Turks and Kurds. Although that later changed, its effects appear in all documents. This was acknowledged during the War of Independence, in conferences, and at the proclamation of the republic. Mustafa Kemal himself, on 17 January 1921 in Izmit, made evaluations about the Kurds during a press conference. This republic was not established without the Kurds. Those who deny this fact speak and make statements in harsh and destructive language every day. The Kurds are part of the foundation and essence of the republic. Later legal texts excluded the Kurds, banned Kurdish identity and language, which brought denial and uprisings. The stage we are going through now is a stage of ending denial and uprising. We now want to discuss how we can meet together and live together in peace.

Building Is Not Possible Without Law and Principles

In the Middle Ages, relations were based on religious unity, and emirates were built on this foundation. Today, we will integrate with the republic in a way that aligns with contemporary standards and rationality. This requires construction (architecture). Denying the existence of the Kurdish people does not mean this construction can be established; construction is not possible without law and principles. Reducing the matter to mere changes in the penal code would also be a mistake. The key elements of this construction its basic principles of integration exist in the 27 February Declaration. This is a political program.

Free Citizenship

There is a problem in defining citizenship; citizenship expresses the bond established with the state. Citizenship clarifies loyalty to the state regardless of ethnicity, language, belief, or thought. For example, it does not matter if a person is socialist or capitalist, Muslim or Christian, Kurdish or Arab; all can be citizens of the state.

Life in the Form of a Democratic Society

My preference is to call it “free citizen.” It could also be called constitutional citizenship, but free citizenship is broader. People will be free in their religion, nationality, and thought. Does the definition of citizenship in Turkey meet this condition? It is somewhat ambiguous. It must allow one to express their religious, ideological, and national identity freely and nationally. This must be done within democratic limits and in a way that preserves the unity of the state. Citizens must be free to express their religion, sect, and thoughts as much as they define their national identity. If you cannot impose your religion or language on others, you should not impose your nationality either. Everyone must be able to define their nationality and identity freely.

We have made it clear that we want to live as a democratic society and we place “peace” at the forefront. A democratic society means that individuals can freely build their social identity. Society has cultural elements; it has health, educational, and sports institutions, hospitals, and economic institutions. If society can build these institutions freely, it acquires a democratic character. A strong state is one that demonstrates this flexibility.

Building a New Millennium

These are the basic principles and organizational model of our unity. There is nothing here referring to nationalism or religious fundamentalism, including the unified state. We are talking about institutions and building a democratic society. Certainly, there is no place for violence here. Unity (the union) with the democratic republic is no less important than establishing the republic itself. We carry out all our work in the spirit of the democratic republic. Kurdish unity will be one of the main pillars of the republic. It will repair the brotherhood that was overturned two hundred years ago and establish the law of brotherhood. This is the construction of a new century, the building of a new millennium.

Existence of Local Democracy and Institutionalization

The spirit of democratic unity is evident in the existence and institutionalization of local democracy. We also propose this for Syria. By local democracy, I mean: a city or village must have the right to express itself freely and manage itself. The conditions for local administration are clear. I am not talking about a separate state or region. An expanded version of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, adapted to our social reality, will provide a strong foundation for this.

These proposals take into account not only Kurdish rights but also the rights of all peoples and other religious communities in their respective areas. History was not built by leaving the Kurds aside. Sultan Sanjar was the first to announce Kurdistan. The legal authority (Sultan Suleiman) stated that it was linked to it. We must move away from policies based on fear of the Kurds and from policies that view Kurds with phobia or as a source of fear.

We Will Practice Politics and Become a Political Society

Our problem has a security aspect, but it also has a much broader political dimension because we are entering politics. Weapons and violence have been left behind. We will lead major democratic politics. Our society needs this as much as it needs bread and water. Not everything should be suppressed under the name of security. Security policy must be built on politics, and politics must also be built on security. We will become a political society, a democratic political society.

Kurds Must Build ‘Democratic Unity’ Among Themselves

Regarding Kurdish unity, my proposal is democratic unity, both among Kurds themselves and in relations between divided Kurds. This is not a separate state, but a broad principle of democratic administration.

ANHA