Researcher: Leader Ocalan’s call reshapes Kurdish priorities

A year after leader Abdullah Ocalan’s call on February 27, 2025, researcher Dr. Ibrahim Muslim notes that the initiative has had a tangible impact on the Kurdish political and social landscape.

According to Muslim, the call helped reduce confrontational discourse among Kurdish groups and opened the door for political and dialogical approaches, refocusing priorities on constitutional rights and political representation. Socially, discussions have expanded on citizenship, decentralization, and identity, while civil society has increasingly led these debates, despite ongoing internal divisions.

On the concept of “democratic integration”, Muslim emphasizes that it means recognizing identity, language, and cultural rights within the state framework, while ensuring equal political participation and expanded powers for decentralization. Although the idea is theoretically accepted, its practical implementation still faces major obstacles, including current laws, lack of trust between parties, and regional complexities.

Muslim highlighted that the main challenges for completing this stage are the trust gap, security concerns, and Kurdish internal divisions. He stresses that Kurdish political forces must develop a clear joint vision, while civil society should enhance dialogue and create inclusive spaces.

On maintaining Kurdish unity in the coming year, Dr. Ibrahim Muslim believes this requires regular Kurdish dialogue, agreement on a minimum set of rights, and a realistic understanding of regional changes to avoid negative repercussions on the Kurdish interior.

ANHA