Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan made his much-discussed and long-awaited statement on 27 February. He declared that "the conditions under which the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) emerged have changed" and called on the PKK to "convene a congress, decide to lay down arms, and dissolve itself." He also emphasized that both the resolution of the Kurdish issue and the socialist struggle had been on the agenda since the early 1990s, and that failing to take this step earlier meant they were already behind schedule.

Öcalan’s statement, titled 'Call for Peace and a Democratic Society,' undoubtedly carries historic significance. Various circles, particularly the PKK, have emphasized its importance, referring to it as the "Manifesto of the Century" or the "Manifesto of the Era." It is clear that making such a call, which signals a fundamental change in the PKK’s organizational structure as well as its strategic and tactical approach, reflects a decisive leadership stance. By issuing this call and reaching such a conclusion, Mr. Öcalan has once again demonstrated his leadership to everyone.

It is evident that Kurdish People's Leader Öcalan made this call because he no longer deemed the PKK’s existing organizational structure and line of struggle compatible with his newly developed Theory of Democratic Civilization and the principles of Democratic Modernity in organization and resistance. Furthermore, he viewed the current political and military conditions as a significant opportunity to implement these changes. With this fundamental transformation, he aimed to reshape the PKK and, in doing so, advance democratic change in both Turkey and the Middle East.

In response to this call, the PKK Executive Committee announced in its statement on 1 March that it had "declared a ceasefire" and was "ready to convene a congress." It emphasized that this step was intended to pave the way for implementing the Call for Peace and Democratic Society. However, the statement also underlined that for the congress to formally decide on disarmament and dissolution, Mr. Öcalan must be granted conditions where he can live and work freely. It stressed that such decisions could only be made under Öcalan’s direct leadership.

The steps taken in this process are clear and understandable. Mr. Öcalan first made a call of unprecedented scope, one that even his opponents had not anticipated. Following this, the PKK’s relevant body responded by declaring a ceasefire and stating that it would comply with and implement the call’s directives. However, it also emphasized that for a congress to be held where decisions on disarmament and the dissolution of the PKK could be made, Öcalan’s direct involvement is essential and unavoidable. The message was clear: Only Mr. Öcalan, as the party’s founding leader, can lead the process of its dissolution.

All of these points are clear and straightforward. For the process that began in early October 2024 to advance, Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan must be granted conditions under which he can live and work freely. He must be able to communicate and engage in discussions with whomever he deems necessary, including the PKK. Otherwise, simply telling the PKK to "hold a congress and dissolve itself" while Öcalan remains under the severe isolation and torture conditions of İmralı is not a practical or realistic approach. Therefore, the key to moving forward is the immediate establishment of conditions that allow Mr. Öcalan to live and work freely. Naturally, the responsibility for this lies with those who uphold the İmralı system in other words, the Republic of Turkey. The decision is now in the hands of the Turkish state and its political authorities. Reflecting this sense of urgency, Sırrı Süreyya Önder, a member of the Imrali delegation, has also expressed his expectation that "the situation will become clear within this week."

This situation raises a critical question: Can Turkey’s political establishment, both the government and the opposition, demonstrate the will to take action? Will it ensure that Kurdish People's Leader Öcalan gains the conditions to live and work freely? Can it establish the necessary legal framework to make this possible? It is clear that the answer to these questions holds vital significance.

In reality, what is at stake is not merely the creation of a new legal framework for a single person, Kurdish People's Leader Öcalan. Some within the Republican People's Party (CHP) have fixated on this issue, but in truth, this is nothing more than a superficial concern. What truly matters is that establishing a legal framework that grants Mr. Öcalan the conditions to live and work freely would mark the beginning of a broader legal transformation for Turkey’s democratization. If this step is taken, essentially crossing a threshold or breaking a long-standing taboo, it will pave the way for the necessary democratic reforms to follow more easily.

On the other hand, the answer to this question is more of a necessity than a choice. Turkish politics must now become a force capable of producing solutions. The current situation is, in fact, a direct result of politics failing to serve as a solution in the past. Mr. Öcalan also highlighted this point in his call, stating that “The strengthening of the PKK’s line in the past was a consequence of the failure of democratic politics.”

If Turkish politics once again fails to resolve the issue and instead assumes that "since the PKK has declared a ceasefire and is dissolving, the problem is solved," it will be making a grave mistake. Ignoring the root causes that led to the emergence of the PKK namely, the Kurdish issue and the lack of democracy in Turkey and addressing only the outcome rather than the underlying problem will lead to further complications. Even if the PKK ceases to exist in its current form, new movements will inevitably emerge. History offers clear lessons over the past two centuries, one rebellion after another has risen, ultimately leading to the formation of a movement like the PKK, which has resisted for nearly half a century. If the Kurdish issue is not resolved within the framework of democratizing Turkey, the future may witness even more complex and destructive developments.

The Kurdish people have demonstrated immense courage and sacrifice through Öcalan’s recent call. Turkish politics must acknowledge and consider how difficult this decision is for Kurdish society to accept. Indeed, concerns have already emerged from various segments of society. Even mothers have expressed their reservations, stating, "A unilateral ceasefire is not acceptable; weapons must be silenced on both sides." This reality underscores how challenging it will be for the PKK to fulfill the expectations placed upon it a difficulty that should not be overlooked.

The responsibility now firmly rests with the state and political institutions. The so-called "terrorism" that was blamed for obstructing everything is no longer an excuse. The political arena is now wide open, and it must demonstrate its capacity to find solutions. It should not be forgotten that the root cause of violence and terrorism lies in the absence and failure of democratic politics. In this sense, it is neither accurate nor productive for political institutions to continuously criticize violence while ignoring their own failure to provide solutions. Clearly, Turkish politics is facing a historic test. If it succeeds, it will pave the way for a new and exemplary democracy in Turkey. However, failure to do so will push the country into an even darker era than ever before.

We hope that political institutions and actors will recognize this reality and pass this historic test successfully. However, this is not solely the responsibility of politicians. The role of the media, intellectuals, artists, academics, and all democratic social institutions is equally crucial in shaping the outcome. A constructive, supportive, and encouraging approach in discussions and debates will help pave the way for success in this critical moment. This historic test belongs to everyone, and so will its success.