Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), has issued a comprehensive new message from Imrali Prison, calling for a decisive shift from military conflict to political dialogue and urging the establishment of a pan-Kurdish national unity.

The statement was delivered to the 24th General Assembly of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) and read aloud during its session on Saturday.

A New Geopolitical Reality

In his message, drafted on June 1, 2026, Ocalan underscored that the Kurdish people have entered a critical historical juncture, transforming into a pivotal actor in the broader geopolitics of the Middle East. He asserted that after centuries of systematic denial, marginalization, and fragmentation by regional powers, it has become impossible to formulate regional policies without factoring in the collective will of the Kurdish population.

A Call for Democratic Unity and End to Fratricide

Addressing the KNK assembly, an organization he co-founded 27 years ago, the jailed leader made an urgent appeal for a "democratic national unity" anchored in structural dialogue and mutual understanding. Ocalan stressed that forging this unity is an overarching responsibility that transcends party politics.

"This unity is not the duty of a single political faction," Ocalan stated, emphasizing that political parties, intellectuals, women, and youth must align to form a cohesive national front.

Crucially, the PKK leader made a stern plea against internal Kurdish conflict, declaring that "Kurds must no longer be weaponized against Kurds." He urged regional Kurdish factions to safeguard their historical achievements through a collective mindset, insisting that deep-seated historical divisions must be resolved through diplomacy rather than fratricidal violence.

Strategy for Regional Co-existence

Shifting focus to long-term governance, Ocalan argued that the future of the Kurdish people depends not only on achieving recognized political status but on cultivating a robust democratic society. He advocated for a paradigm shift where entrenched regional issues are resolved strictly through legal frameworks, political negotiation, and rights-based discourse rather than armed warfare.

Concluding his message, Ocalan framed the ultimate objective of the Kurdish movement as one of regional harmony, arguing that Kurdish liberation is intrinsically linked to the freedom of neighboring populations. He noted that overcoming internal fragmentation remains the sole path toward securing a prosperous future for both the Kurdish people and the wider Middle East.