Mulla Nawaf: Turkey stuck in nationalist mindset

 In an interview with ANHA agency, intellectual Bashir Mulla Nawaf discussed the historical message and call of the Abdullah Ocalan, as well as Turkey’s response to it.

 He explained that leader’s message serves not only the various communities of the region but also the Turkish people themselves. He pointed out that figures such as Devlet Bahçeli, who have advocated for this process, had initially hoped for change. However, they have effectively admitted their failure by stating, “We have tried for years and have not been able to suppress or eliminate Kurdish nationalism.” In other words, they acknowledge the situation by suggesting, “Let him speak in parliament and call for disarmament.” Nawaf continued, stating, “The Turkish state remains trapped in a chauvinistic mindset, seeing only itself and insisting on a singular identity across the entire country.”

 Bashir Mulla Nawaf also questioned Turkey’s approach, asking how the state could consider leader  Abdullah Ocalan a key figure for dialogue while simultaneously sidelining him and engaging instead with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). He argued that this approach is legally inconsistent, adding, “If they are truly serious, they must release Mr. Öcalan.”

 Furthermore, he highlighted that democratizing society cannot be achieved while Turkey remains concerned about the PKK’s broad social base and its transformation into more than just a political party. Nawaf stressed that Turkish authorities must create better conditions, adjust their rhetoric, and establish a foundation for meaningful dialogue. He remarked, “They dream of restricting the PKK to the point where it can no longer take any action.”

 He also recalled that numerous uprisings had taken place before the rise of the Kurdish liberation movement, but most collapsed within two to three years. However, the PKK distinguished itself through its capacity for adaptation and transformation. From its establishment in 1978 to the present day,

 Nawaf stated, the movement has continuously evolved in response to changing realities. He attributed this resilience to Öcalan’s leadership, noting that his deep historical analyses serve as predictions rather than mere inspirations. “His assessments anticipate political and social developments with remarkable accuracy,” he said.

 Bashir Mulla Nawaf further asserted that leader Ocalan’s framing of capitalist modernity, 100 years after the emergence of nation-states, signaled the declining legitimacy of nationalist state structures in the region. Concluding his remarks, he stated, “The collapse of nation-states began with Saddam Hussein. In my view, the popular uprisings were part of this larger transformation. States built on rigid nationalist ideologies—such as Libya, Egypt, and now Syria—are undergoing fundamental changes. The focus now is on the two remaining obstacles to this new geopolitical reality: Iran and Turkey. If they do not alter their behavior, they will face grave threats and suffer the same fate as Iraq and Syria.”

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ANHA