Abdullah Öcalan, leader of the PKK, has urged members of the banned Kurdish militant group to end their armed struggle against the Turkish state. This appeal comes during a meeting aimed at renewing peace efforts, highlighting a hopeful shift after decades of violence that has taken a heavy toll on both sides. Öcalan, who has been imprisoned since 1999, still exerts considerable influence over the PKK, and his requests are likely to resonate with its leadership, although some members may oppose this newfound direction.
The imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan has asked the members of the banned Kurdish group to lay down arms on Thursday.
Öcalan's long-awaited statement was read out by deputies of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Freedom and Democracy Party (DEM) at the 'Call for Peace and Democratic Society' meeting held at the Elite World Hotel in Istanbul.
Despite his incarceration, he continues to wield significant influence over the PKK. The group's leadership is widely expected to heed any call Öcalan makes.
The call could potentially end a conflict that has spanned over four decades and claimed tens of thousands of lives.
This is a developing story and our journalists are working on further updates.
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