Murad Karayilan, the general commander of the People’s Defense Forces (HPG), in a message to the Peace and Democracy Festival in Dortmund, declared that without the freedom of Abdullah Ocalan, genuine peace cannot be achieved.

He also pointed out that the decision to burn their weapons “was not an easy one,” but rather a sign of their commitment to the peace process.

Karayilan’s Message: Ocalan’s Freedom is a Prerequisite for Real Peace
In his message presented to the participants of the Peace and Democracy Festival in Dortmund, Murad Karayilan emphasized, “Without Abdullah Ocalan’s freedom, real peace will not be possible.”

This was framed as a call for the revival of an inclusive and comprehensive peace process.

Burning Weapons as a Symbol of Commitment to Peace
Karayilan stated, “Turkey must understand that when our forces burned their weapons on July 12, it was a difficult decision, not an easy one.”

He underlined the importance of this step, describing it as “a reflection of the reality that, in a strategic way, has entered into the peace process.”

He added that this should be understood as a message to Turkey: to take the concerns seriously and to move forward toward a political solution.