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Abdullah Ocalan

Fighters with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) line up to put their weapons into a pit during a ceremony in Sulaimaniyah, in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, on July 11, 2025. (Shwan MOHAMMED / AFP)
July 12, 2025, 12:52 pm
Kurdish PKK fighters burn their weapons at disarmament ceremony in Iraq
Erdogan hails symbolic destruction of arms as step toward ‘terror-free Turkey’; top PKK fighter says jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan must be set free for rapprochement to work
By Rouba El Husseini and HAZEL WARD
Youngsters hold a photograph of the jailed leader of the rebel Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, Abdullah Ocalan as they gather to watch live on a tv screen a Pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party, or DEM, delegation members releasing an statement from Ocalan, in Diyarbakir, Turkey, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Metin Yoksu)
March 1, 2025, 11:54 am
PKK declares ceasefire with Turkey after 40 years of armed struggle
Declaration by outlawed group comes after jailed leader said it should lay down arms, disband
By Fulya Ozerkan
Supporters display a poster depicting jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) Abdullah Ocalan, 75, after he called on the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to disarm and dissolve itself in Diyarbakir, southeastern Turkey, on February 27, 2025. (Yasin Akgul / AFP)
February 27, 2025, 8:10 pm
In major shift, Kurdish PKK founder urges group to disarm, end conflict with Turkey
Jailed separatist Abdullah Ocalan accepts olive branch extended by Ankara to end decades-long insurgency – but declaration’s influence on US-backed fighters in Syria unclear
By Fulya Ozerkan
Syrian Kurds march during a protest in support of Afrin on January 18, 2018, in the northern Syrian town of Jawadiyah. (AFP Photo/Delil Souleiman)
January 18, 2018, 10:57 pm
Syrian Kurds protest after Turkish threats of military action
Demonstrators rail against Erdogan, who has called enclaves controlled by US-backed Kurdish militia ‘nests’ of terror
By AFP
Kurdish protesters demonstrate with placards reading "No to dictatorship" and the portrait of the leader of the Kurdistan PKK Workers' Party, Abdullah Ocalan in the city center of Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on March 18, 2017. (AFP Photo/dpa/Boris Roessler)
March 19, 2017, 3:11 pm
Turkey summons German envoy over ‘pro-PKK rally scandal’
Display of insignia of outlawed Kurdish group in Frankfurt further heightens tensions between two countries
By AFP
Illustrative photo of a Turkish military helicopter (photo credit: Wikimedia Commons/Turkish Armed Forces)
April 11, 2015, 5:57 pm
Turkish army, PKK rebels clash in blow to peace process
Military deploys aircraft, helicopters after four soldiers wounded in battle with Kurdish separatists in southeastern Turkey
By Stuart Williams
Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan in Turkish custody in 1999. (photo credit: AP Photo/Turkish Intelligence Service, File)
March 1, 2015, 1:08 am
Jailed Kurdish leader urges PKK to lay down arms
Erdogan praises Abdullah Ocalan’s call as ‘very, very important’ in helping end conflict between Turks, Kurdish minority
By Dilay Gundogan
Illustrative photo of a Turkish military helicopter (photo credit: Wikimedia Commons/Turkish Armed Forces)
October 14, 2014, 3:02 pm
Turkey bombs Kurdish rebel targets in southeast
Assault on areas held by outlawed group is first since 2013 truce, comes as Kurds threatened in neighboring Syria
By Fulya Ozerkan
PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, center, flanked by fellow rebels. (AP/IHA)
September 23, 2014, 7:23 pm
Kurdish leader calls for ‘all-out resistance’ against IS
Jailed leader of independence group delivers message as Islamic State launches offensive against Syrian Kurds
By AFP
Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan in Turkish custody in 1999. (photo credit: AP Photo/Turkish Intelligence Service, File)
October 14, 2013, 10:29 pm
Kurdish rebel chief urges peace talks with Turkey
As the PKK indicates frustration with Ankara, imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan says ‘in-depth’ negotiations must begin soon
By AP
Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses lawmakers in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. (photo credit: AP)
March 21, 2013, 8:20 pm
Turkey voices caution over Kurdish ceasefire call
Erdogan welcomes Ocalan’s call for a truce and for PKK fighters to leave southern Turkey
Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan in Turkish custody in 1999. (photo credit: AP Photo/Turkish Intelligence Service, File)
March 21, 2013, 2:04 pm
Kurdish rebel leader declares cease-fire
Abdullah Ocalan announces a ‘new era’ where ‘our armed elements’ will ‘retreat’ from Turkish territory
By Mucahit Ceylan and Suzan Fraser
Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses his lawmakers in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, March 19 (photo credit: AP)
March 19, 2013, 4:50 pm
Erdogan says he hopes to end conflict with Kurdish rebels
Turkish prime minister aims to announce breakthrough during spring festival; guerrilla leader to reveal his road map for peace
PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, center, flanked by fellow rebels. (AP/IHA)
March 19, 2013, 7:21 am
Kurdish leader says talks with Turkey progressing
PKK looking for reciprocal steps from Erdogan in exchange for ceasefire in decades-old conflict with rebels
By Suzan Fraser
The PKK flag.
February 23, 2013, 8:14 pm
PKK head calls talks with Turks ‘historic step’
On prison island off Istanbul, Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan urges all sides to exercise ‘care and sensitivity’
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