Responding to Abdullah Öcalan’s video message released on July 9, the KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union) Executive Council Co-Presidency made a statement to the public, saying: "We are determined to take the step Leader Apo [Abdullah Öcalan] has asked of us. We are taking this new step with our people and peoples in mind. However, it should be understood that the process cannot move forward solely through our actions. The process should be approached accordingly, and the necessary steps must be taken."
The KCK emphasized that Öcalan, who initiated this process, must also be freed.
The full statement from the KCK Executive Council Co-Presidency reads as follows:
"To advance the Peace and Democratic Society process, Leader Abdullah Öcalan has made a new call. This call was released yesterday, and thus the public has become aware of its content. First of all, we are very pleased that Leader Apo’s voice and image have reached the outside. We believe that our people and all friends are equally pleased. On this occasion, we respectfully greet Leader Abdullah Öcalan, our long-missed comrade, with longing, love, and gratitude.
This call is the second one following the historic February 27, 2025 call. Like the previous one, this is also historic. In this call, Leader APO summarized the goals and principles of the 'Peace and Democratic Society' process, highlighting the progress made, and the steps needed moving forward. He once again clearly expressed his commitment by saying, 'I continue to support the Peace and Democratic Society Call of February 27, 2025.'
As the Freedom Movement, we have evaluated this historic call from Leader Abdullah Öcalan. We feel it necessary to share our conclusions transparently with our people and the public.
We declared our full support for the 'Peace and Democratic Society' process announced on February 27, 2025, and affirmed our commitment to fulfill our responsibilities completely. Driven by our historical responsibility and belief in the goals of this call, we have made strategic decisions and taken concrete steps.
Our people have also supported this historic process with great attention, sensitivity, and belief. However, as of now, the Republic of Turkey and the current government have not taken any steps in response to the process or our actions. Despite this, we remain committed to the goals outlined in the 'Peace and Democratic Society Call.' We believe our efforts in this regard have been recognized.
Now, in response to this new historic call, we declare that we will take the concrete step Leader Apo has asked of us. As with our previous steps, we take this one out of our loyalty to Leader Abdullah Öcalan and our belief that the Democratic Society Manifesto will lead to the liberation of our people and humanity.
In his June 19, 2025 call, Leader Apo outlined the necessary steps and called on everyone to fulfill their responsibilities, thus setting a roadmap for the process. These points must be understood and taken seriously. This call is not just to us but to the state, parliament, and all political actors with responsibilities.
We have taken strategic steps based on our historical responsibility and high sensitivity. Now we are determined to take the step Leader Apo has asked of us. We are taking this new step by thinking of our people and peoples. However, it should be known that this process cannot move forward solely with our actions. The process must be approached correctly, and all necessary steps must be taken.
On this basis, Leader Apo, the architect of the Peace and Democratic Society process, must be freed. Only if Leader Apo is free can the process advance and achieve its goals. Otherwise, no further progress can be made under current conditions. Secondly, necessary measures must be taken for democratic politics and a holistic rule of law. Political institutions and parliament must take initiative accordingly. A meaningful process and progress can only be possible under these conditions.
In conclusion, as we express our determination to take this historic step, we feel the need to reiterate what must be done with the same sense of responsibility. We hope what we have expressed is understood and acted upon accordingly. As we have done so far, we are taking this step in the belief that it will bring great gains for our people. We maintain our belief that our steps will be reciprocated and that the 'Peace and Democratic Society' process will succeed."