27.02.2026 12:03
The DEM Party announced its second message on the first anniversary of Abdullah Öcalan's 'Call for Peace and Democratic Society' dated February 27, 2025. In the message read by Pervin Buldan, Öcalan stated, "There cannot be a Turk without a Kurd, nor a Kurd without a Turk. This dialectical relationship has a historical uniqueness. The fundamental texts during the establishment process of the Republic expressed the unity of Turks and Kurds. Our call on February 27 is an attempt to revive this spirit of unity and a demand for a Democratic Republic."
PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan will release a new message on the anniversary of the PKK's call for disarmament and dissolution. The Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) is holding a press conference in Ankara regarding the message. The event, which has seen the accreditation of 150 local and foreign journalists, started at 11:15 AM.
"WE STAND BEHIND THE CALL OF FEBRUARY 27 UNTIL THE END"
The event began with a video presentation. It was opened by the co-chairs of the DEM Party, Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan. In her speech, Tülay Hatimoğulları stated, "Democratic integration is not only the recognition of the Kurds but the democratization of Turkey as a whole. We stand behind the call made by Mr. Öcalan on February 27 last year until the end. We once again promise that we will realize this magnificent offer of peace and brotherhood, and we will fight for it until the end."
"THE RESPONSIBILITY NOW LIES WITH THE STATE"
Speaking afterward, Tuncer Bakırhan said, "Before February 27, Turkey was in a state of great hopelessness. With the call, we have come to the threshold of a new era. True peace cannot be achieved through unilateral steps; therefore, the state must also be part of a party. The responsibility now lies with the state and the executive authority."
THE MESSAGE WAS READ BY PERVIN BULDAN
The Turkish version of Öcalan's message was read by Pervin Buldan, a member of the Imralı delegation.
Here is Abdullah Öcalan's message;
"Our call of February 27, 2025, is a declaration that where democratic politics is realized, the meaning of arms becomes null and void, and the choice is clearly made in favor of politics; it is a principle integrity. We have succeeded in overcoming the period of negative rebellion fundamentally through a unilateral will and practice. The process we have left behind has proven our ability and strength to transition from a politics of violence and division to democratic politics and integration. Our calls, conferences, and congresses were aimed at this purpose. The decisions to dissolve the organization and end the armed struggle have demonstrated a mental as well as a formal and practical commitment to renouncing violence and expressing a political preference. This was also a declaration of reconciling mentally with the republic.
In the past year, I value the efforts of Mr. Erdoğan's will, Mr. Bahçeli's call, Mr. Özel's contribution, and all other political, social, civil individuals and institutions that have positively contributed to the process. And I especially remember our friend Sırrı Süreyya once again with great respect and longing.
There cannot be a Turkish without a Kurd, nor a Kurd without a Turk. This relationship dialectic has a historical uniqueness. The fundamental texts during the founding process of the republic expressed the unity of Turks and Kurds. Our call of February 27 is an attempt to revive this spirit of unity and a demand for a Democratic Republic. We aimed to break the mechanism that feeds on blood and conflict. Acting according to short-term narrow political interests instead of seeing the historicity, seriousness, and potential risks of the problem weakens us all. Trying to perpetuate denial and rebellion is to attempt to make the greatest rule-breaking a rule. We are removing the obstacles that have been attempted to be reversed in the brotherhood of the last two centuries, fulfilling the requirements of brotherhood law. We want to discuss how to come together and how to live together.
Now we must transition from the negative phase to the positive construction phase. A new political period and strategy is opening up. We aim to close the period of violence-based politics and open a process based on democratic society and law, inviting everyone to create opportunities and take responsibility in this direction.
Democratic society, democratic consensus, and integration are the building blocks of the mindset of the positive period. The positive phase excludes difficult and violence-based struggle methods. The aim in positive construction is not to seize any institution or structure but to enable every individual in society to reach the responsibility to participate in social construction. The goal is to carry out the construction together with and within society. Oppressed groups, ethnic groups, religious and cultural groups can claim their creations through continuous and organized democratic struggle. It is important for the state to be sensitive to democratic transformation in this process.
Democratic integration is as important as the beginning of the Republic. It is a call that contains existence and wealth in terms of meaning, future, and power. At its core is a democratic society model. It is an alternative to divisive or reverse assimilationist methods. Transition to democratic integration necessitates peace laws. The solution of a democratic society foresees the establishment of a legal framework in political, social, economic, and cultural dimensions.
The root cause of many problems and crises experienced today is the absence of a democratic law. We base our approach on a legal solution framed by democratic politics. We need an approach that will allow space for a democratic society, allow space for democracy, and create strong legal guarantees for it.
The citizenship relationship should be established based on the bond with the state rather than through belonging to the nation. We base our understanding of free citizenship on the principle of being free in one's religion, nationality, and thoughts. Just as religion and language cannot be imposed, nationality should not be either. A constitutional citizenship relationship that is based on democratic boundaries and the integrity of the state encompasses the right to freely express and organize religious, ideological, identity, and national existence.
Today, no ideological system can survive without basing itself on democracy. Ups and downs, tensions, and crises are temporary; democracy will eventually be the lasting one. Our call aims to find a solution to the coexistence problem not only in Turkey but also in the Middle East and the crises it produces. We defend the rights of all those who have been wronged to exist and express themselves freely.
Women are among the social forces that no society or state can ignore to sustain itself. Today, domestic violence, femicides, patriarchal oppression, all reflect the current projection of the historical assault that began with the enslavement of women. For this reason, women are the most libertarian part and driving force of democratic integration.
The language of the period cannot be commanding and authoritarian. We must prioritize giving the other party the opportunity to express themselves correctly, to listen correctly, and to express their own truths. The realization of all these matters requires a developed common mind based on mutual respect."
WHAT MESSAGES DID ÖCALAN GIVE ON FEBRUARY 27, 2025?
Öcalan, who is in Imralı Prison, made a statement on February 27, 2025, calling for "Peace and Democratic Society." Öcalan called on the PKK to disarm and dissolve itself, stating, "I call for disarmament and take on the historical responsibility of this call."
Stating that the PKK has completed its lifespan, Öcalan summarized: "The collapse of real socialism in the 1990s due to internal reasons and the resolution of identity denial in the country, along with the developments in freedom of expression, have led to the meaninglessness and excessive repetition of the PKK."
Thus, it has completed its life like similar ones and made its dissolution necessary. Just as every contemporary society and party would voluntarily do, gather your congress to integrate with the state and society and make a decision; all groups must lay down their arms and the PKK must dissolve itself. "