Former President of Austria Heinz Fischer, Vienna Green Party MP Heidi Sequenz, Viennese lawyer Clemens Lahner, politician and foreign policy expert Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic, and Austrian Green Party MP Berivan Aslan all called for the release of Abdullah Öcalan and urged the Turkish state to take concrete steps toward resolving the issue.

Fischer: The Turkish government must also take steps toward peace

Former President of Austria Heinz Fischer stated that both sides must take action in order to resolve the longstanding conflict between the Turkish state and the Kurdish people. He emphasized that Öcalan's step toward peace is significant and that the Turkish government should respond positively.

Highlighting that a new opportunity has emerged to resolve the decades-long Kurdish issue in Turkey, Fischer said: “For many years, there has been a conflict between the government of Turkey and the Kurdish people that has not been resolved. If today there is a chance to resolve this problem—or at least reduce its intensity—then both sides must take steps. Ocalan has taken a courageous step. The Turkish government must also move toward the Kurdish people. Only if both sides sincerely commit to peace can success be achieved.”

Fischer noted that he has known of Öcalan for many years and has closely followed his role in Turkey’s political history. He drew attention to Öcalan’s long imprisonment and the enduring conflict, and shared the following remarks on recent developments:

“I am 86 years old, and I remember the period before Öcalan’s arrest. During that time, many people on both sides lost their lives. Later, Öcalan was imprisoned on Imrali, and the situation remained unresolved for years. But if Öcalan is now making a gesture that was previously unthinkable—calling on the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Kurdish people to lay down arms—then this opportunity must be taken seriously. The Turkish government should respond positively to this call and take a step toward peace.”

One-sided initiatives are not enough

Heinz Fischer stressed that peace processes can only progress through mutual steps, stating that unilateral efforts would not be sufficient: “To resolve a conflict, both sides must take action. When one side takes a step, the other must respond. Öcalan has taken the first step. If the government also responds publicly, it could pave the way for lasting peace. Öcalan’s message must be taken seriously, and a solution in line with that message must be found.”

There is now a real opportunity for peace

Fischer noted that in the past, various attempts were made in Western democracies to resolve the conflict involving Turkey, Abdullah Öcalan, and PKK, but most of those efforts ended in failure. However, he emphasized that now a genuine opportunity has emerged and said:

“In the past twenty years, many proposals have been developed in Western democracies to address this issue. Most of them failed. But now, we are facing a real opportunity—and it must be seized. Even the hardest stone can be shaped by the constant flow of water. Years of effort may have been fruitless, but today a real chance has presented itself. If this opportunity is missed, it will be a tremendous loss. Both sides must take steps toward peace and bring a lasting resolution to this problem.”

Sequenz: Öcalan’s courageous step must not go unanswered

Heidi Sequenz, MP for the Vienna Green Party, emphasized that Öcalan’s step toward peace was both deeply significant and courageous, and underlined that Turkey must respond.

Sequenz described Ocalan’s call to dissolve the PKK and to bring an end to military conflict as a bold initiative: “This step taken by Öcalan is not only important—it is extremely courageous. To say ‘we are ending the armed conflict and dissolving the PKK’ is a major move. But at this point, there must also be a response from Turkey. Unfortunately, we have yet to see such a step.”

Turkey’s attacks are harming the peace process

Heidi Sequenz pointed out that attacks against the Kurdish people are ongoing and that these actions undermine trust and damage efforts toward peace: “Recently, I read about an attack on a family in Rojava and the civilians who were killed. Incidents like these seriously undermine trust and harm the peace process.”

Europe must take Öcalan’s peace proposal seriously

Heidi Sequenz stated that the heads of state within the European Union (EU)—and Europe more broadly—must pay attention to Öcalan’s call for peace: “What truly matters is that the heads of state in the European Union, and Europe in general, take Öcalan’s peace proposal seriously and bring it to the attention of a wider public. Otherwise, this initiative cannot have the impact it deserves. Ocalan’s message is one that deserves to be heard clearly and powerfully around the world.”

Abdullah Öcalan must be released immediately

Heidi Sequenz added that Öcalan’s prolonged confinement in a solitary cell constitutes an inhumane practice and stressed that he must be released without delay: “No one deserves to be held in isolation for such a long time. The Turkish government must change this situation immediately and ensure Öcalan’s urgent release. How much longer will he be kept in isolation on Imrali?”

Lahner: Abdullah Öcalan is a representative of the Kurdish people and a powerful symbol

Viennese lawyer Clemens Lahner described Abdullah Öcalan’s call for peace as a sincere and meaningful step toward a lasting solution. He emphasized that Turkey must seize this opportunity and engage in serious negotiations with the Kurdish people.

Having worked with the Kurdish community for many years, Lahner shared the following assessment of Öcalan’s call: “Ocalan’s message is a serious initiative for lasting peace between the Kurdish and Turkish peoples. This is a very important step, and we hope that Turkey will seize this opportunity to begin serious negotiations with the Kurdish Freedom Movement. Öcalan has been held in isolation for many years. While Turkey defines him as a terrorist, Öcalan is a representative and a powerful symbol for the Kurdish people. His role in the peace process is crucial. This conflict cannot be won through military means. Neither the Kurdish Freedom Movement nor the Turkish army can achieve a military victory. That is why the only solution lies in a political and democratic agreement.”

Human rights apply to everyone

Clemens Lahner emphasized the importance of international solidarity and reminded that human rights are universal: “International solidarity is crucial. If we are talking about human rights, we must not forget that these rights must apply to everyone. Human rights either exist for all or for no one. The rights of the Kurdish people are just as important as our own. When the rights of one people are violated, the rights of all are at risk. That is why we must stand together, speak out, and find a common solution.”

Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic: Turkey is not ready to take steps toward peace

Austrian politician and foreign policy expert Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic stated that Turkey continues to oppress the Kurdish people and is not approaching the peace process with sincerity.

She emphasized that Abdullah Öcalan has been held in unlawful isolation for many years and must be released. Ernst-Dziedzic also drew attention to the increasing repression of the opposition in Turkey, criticizing the arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu with the following remarks: “Today I learned that the Mayor of Istanbul has been arrested. There is no judicial independence in Turkey, and this is no coincidence. As always, Erdoğan is suppressing the opposition and continuing to bomb Kurdish regions. There was once hope for peace, and it was believed that an agreement with Turkey could be reached. But instead of allowing the Kurdish people to live in peace, Turkey continues its policy of repression.”

The isolation of Abdullah Öcalan is unlawful and unjust

Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic continued: “Öcalan has been held in severe isolation for far too long in a way that is both unlawful and unjust, and he must now be released. The Kurdish people have repeatedly expressed their willingness to engage in negotiations and a ceasefire, but these efforts have always been one-sided. Turkey has never responded and still refuses to take any concrete steps toward peace. In Syria as well, the Kurdish people carry a strong hope for peace and reconciliation, and they could play an important role within the state. However, I have serious doubts about whether this process will succeed. Because right after an eight-point agreement was signed with the Kurds, it was announced that the President of Syria would be recognized as the sole ruler of the country and that Islam would be the official state religion. The Kurds and other minorities were quickly forgotten, and women’s rights were ignored.”

Erdoğan has no interest in peace

Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic added that Turkey is not genuinely committed to the peace process at this time and that pressure on the Kurdish people and the political opposition continues to intensify: “The repression in Turkey is ongoing. The pressure on the Kurds and the opposition is increasing, and people are being arrested. No one should believe that Erdoğan is truly interested in peace.”

Berivan Aslan: The peace process must be placed under international supervision

Austrian Green Party MP Berivan Aslan emphasized that the ongoing process in Turkey must be more closely monitored by the international community, and that diplomacy should be given greater priority in order to achieve peace. She continued: “The truth is, we cannot become brothers and sisters by dying. The Kurdish people, along with all other peoples, have the right to live with dignity. But this process must be more closely monitored by international actors. A peace process must begin, and this time it must be built on stronger foundations by learning from the failed experiences of the past.”

As politicians, we are ready to do our part

Berivan Aslan stated that international actors must play a more active role for the peace process to succeed and shared the following assessment: “I believe that international actors must be included in the process to establish a stronger peace initiative. Diplomacy should be placed at the center of this process. A robust peace process is essential not only for the Kurdish people but also for Europe and the wider world. As politicians, we are ready to do our part. The Kurdish people have struggled immensely, they are exhausted, and they have suffered great losses. We must not allow the world to become a place where they are treated like orphans. We must ensure that children in this world are no longer treated as if they are orphans.”