The Kurdistan Workers' Party reveals meetings with Turkish officials and a communication channel with Ocalan

The Kurdistan Workers' Party revealed meetings held between its leaders and Turkish officials in "specific places," in addition to a channel for exchanging messages with the party's leader, Abdullah Ocalan, in Imrali prison.

During those meetings, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party stressed “the necessity of its leaders returning to Türkiye to participate in the democratic process,” according to press statements by a leader in the party.

Mustafa Karasu, a leader in the “Workers’ Party” and a member of the “Union of Kurdistan Communities,” the umbrella entity for Kurdish organizations, said that party leaders in Mount Qandil in the Kurdistan region and Turkish state officials meet periodically in specific places, adding that “the two sides discuss mutual concerns.”

Karasu confirmed, “There is a communication channel between the party’s leaders in Mount Qandil and its leader, Abdullah Ocalan, who is imprisoned in Imrali, and officials in the Turkish state, to exchange views between them.”

The labor leader said, “Without these contacts and meetings, the (peace and democratic society process in Turkey) based on dissolving the (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) and disarming it, which Ankara calls (the process of a terrorism-free Turkey) cannot advance or succeed.”

The "peace process" in Turkey began two years ago, when Devlet Bahceli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party and an ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, surprised public opinion by shaking hands with representatives of the pro-Kurdish Equality and Peoples' Democracy Party in Parliament.

Later, last year, and under the guidance of Abdullah Ocalan, the Kurdistan Workers' Party officially announced the dissolution of itself and the end of its armed campaign last year.

Karasu promised, in an interview with Turkish journalist of Kurdish origin Erdal Er, residing in Belgium, that the “framework law” called the “Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration,” which was approved by the Turkish Parliament on August 10, will not solve the Kurdish issue, but it is considered a “good start.”

On August 5, 2026, a draft law was submitted to the Turkish Parliament aimed at organizing the process of dissolving and disarming the Workers’ Party. The long-awaited legislation, known as the “Framework Law,” forms the basis for the recent peace process, according to Turkish observers.

The Kurdish issue

But Karasu criticized the law's focus on disarming the PKK, as it is the only pillar of the Kurdish issue. He said: “We are not talking in a way: ‘Give up your weapons and go back to Türkiye.’” Because if we have to return to Türkiye, we want to wage a democratic political struggle there.”

Regarding the four committees formed within the framework of the “peace process,” Karasu said that the alliance of the “Justice and Development” parties and the “National Movement” known as (the ruling People’s Alliance in Turkey) did not show the necessary response to our steps, noting that “the process is witnessing a clear delay.”

Karasu confirmed that Ocalan will be a member of the “Disarmament and Strategic Coordination” Committee, pointing out that if he does not become a member of it, the process will not advance.

The party leader confirmed that there had been no “change in his working conditions in Imrali, but decisions had been taken in this regard.” He spoke of “ongoing discussions regarding who will work with the president and who will visit him,” expecting that “his role will become more effective.”

The “Disarmament and Strategic Coordination” Committee is one of 4 committees that the “Monitoring, Follow-up and Coordination of Social Integration” Council, which was formed under the Framework Law, and held its first meeting under the chairmanship of Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz on August 24, decided to establish, along with the “Judicial and Legal Coordination,” “Follow-up and Monitoring,” and “Conformity and Social Integration” committees.

The “Monitoring and Follow-up” Council is responsible for monitoring the process of disarming the Kurdistan Workers’ Party and confirming its complete completion, so that steps can begin to be taken for the return of the party’s members and their integration into society.

Ocalan, during a meeting with the delegation of the Turkish pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democracy and Equality Party, known as the "Imrali Delegation," during his meeting with him on Sunday in his prison cell, called for taking quick, mutual steps between the Kurdistan Workers' Party and the Turkish state in order to complete the "peace process," stressing the need for the committees concerned with implementing the "framework law" to begin their work effectively.

The return of the “workers” leaders

Karasu demanded that the PKK leaders be allowed to return to Türkiye, considering that “the exclusion of administrators from the framework law and the ambiguity surrounding Ocalan’s status raise questions.”

He said: “We want to solve the Kurdish issue, go to Türkiye and participate in democratic politics (...) We have other goals, such as building a democratic society based on building democratic socialism.” He continued: "We have not abandoned these goals. We want to achieve them through democratic political methods, and within the framework of a democratic Türkiye."

He pointed out that a large portion of Kurdish politicians residing in Europe, who left Turkey for political reasons, will want to return, and that there is great importance for the return of the residents of the “Makhmur” camp, in northern Iraq, who were displaced from Türkiye.

Karasu said that he "understands the presence of opponents to the peace process," but he attributed what he called "the failure of the Turkish governments in democratic transformation and economic development" and to solve many problems, to the continued unresolved Kurdish issue.

The “Framework Law” allows the return of thousands of members of the “Kurdistan Workers’ Party” after ensuring that they have disarmed, with the postponement of legal rulings and prosecutions for specific periods, in addition to the return of thousands of sympathizers with the party in Europe, but it does not allow the return of the leaders of the first rank, who are about 800 leaders. There was talk of allocating a safe area in Sulaymaniyah (Kurdistan Region) for their residence.