ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Jailed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan on Monday received his nephew, Omer Ocalan, at Turkey’s Imrali prison, where he shared messages for Kurdish New Year, Newroz, and Eid al-Fitr messages.
Omer Ocalan said in a statement he shared on X, “At a time of significant developments in Turkey, the Middle East, and the world, I share Mr. Abdullah Ocalan’s message with the public.”
He quoted the PKK leader as stating, “I salute our people’s passionate embrace of the call for peaceful and democratic society during Newroz. Once again, I extend my greetings for Newroz and Ramazan Bayram [Eid al-Fitr].”
This year, Newroz was celebrated between March 21 and 23, while Eid al-Fitr was observed on March 30.
Omer Ocalan’s visit to the PKK leader marked his first since October 23. The timing is notable, coming after media reports that had falsely claimed Abdullah Ocalan’s death.
The visit also follows a historic message issued by Abdullah Ocalan in late February, urging the PKK to convene a congress and “make the decision to integrate with the state and society.” He added that “all groups should lay down their arms and the PKK should dissolve itself.”
The message was relayed through the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) that has been mediating peace efforts between Ankara and the PKK, including holding meetings with the group’s jailed leader.
The call sparked hope for an end to the conflict that has taken 40,000 lives.
Abdullah Ocalan, who founded the PKK in 1978 and launched a war against the Turkish state six years later, has been jailed on Imrali Island, in the Sea of Marmara south of Istanbul, since 1999.
The PKK initially demanded the establishment of an independent Kurdistan but now calls for autonomy. The group is designated by Turkey as a terrorist organization.
