On 15 February 1999, Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan was captured in Kenya by Turkish special agents acting in connection with the CIA and Mossad, while en route from the Greek embassy to Nairobi airport.

The capture of Turkey’s "enemy number one" was claimed by the authorities in Ankara as their victory against the Kurds who had been waging a mass uprising against the policies of denial and discrimination; a struggle Öcalan had led since the 1980s. The capture of their leader was regarded by the Kurds as the outcome of an "international conspiracy" involving the security services of several nations, including the CIA, MI5 and Mossad.

Öcalan's capture was followed by a show trial during which Turkish prosecutors sought to portray the Kurdish leader as a "terrorist". Instead, Öcalan used his defence to articulate the case for peace and reconciliation between Turks and Kurds based on the recognition of Kurds' cultural and national differences within a unitary state.

For many years, Öcalan was held in solitary confinement in hazardous conditions on Imrali island off the coast of Istanbul. His health was said to be deteriorating because of the harsh environment of the prison. But despite all his personal difficulties, Öcalan has continued to play a central role in Turkey's politics and exerts an influence among the Kurdish movement that cannot be ignored. He has advocated a negotiated settlement by putting forward detailed proposals calling on both sides to take steps to bring about a permanent end to the conflict. He has used his stature among the Kurds to urge repeated unilateral ceasefires on Kurdish guerrillas to give peace a chance which they have repeatedly adopted in the face of continued aggression by the Turkish military.

Insisting that he is a political prisoner, Öcalan and the Kurdish national movement have maintained a consistent stand for a peaceful conclusion to the conflict based on the achievement of justice for the Kurdish people. Through continuous discussions, their proposals have evolved into the demand for “democratic autonomy” inside Turkey, a policy which envisages the granting of local decision-making powers in the regions through social and cultural rights such as the use of the Kurdish language and mother tongue education, thus fulfilling longstanding key Kurdish demands.

What is clear is that Turkey, since Öcalan’s detention, has failed to achieve the elimination of the Kurdish movement, just as it has failed in its insistence on seeing Abdullah Öcalan as a criminal or terrorist. Talks between Öcalan and representatives of the Turkish state underlined the gradual realisation on the Turkish side that Öcalan’s influence remains crucial to achieving an end to this protracted conflict.

DEM Party visited Imrali twice

On December 28, 2024, DEM Party MPs Sirri Süreyya Önder and Pervin Buldan met with Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan on Imrali Prison Island. During the conversation, Abdullah Öcalan conveyed messages aimed at finding a solution. Following this dialogue, the delegation met with various political actors and parties. They first held talks with Ahmet Davutoğlu, the leader of the Future Party, as well as with members of the AKP faction and the leader of the SAADET Party, Mahmut Arıkan.

In addition, talks were held with leading representatives of the CHP, the DEVA party and the Yeni Refah Partisi (New Welfare Party). The delegation continued its talks by also meeting with the imprisoned former HDP co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ.

The DEM Party Imrali Delegation released a statement after meeting political parties. The statement on Friday reads as follows:

"After our meeting with Mr. Abdullah Öcalan on Imrali Island on 28 December 2024, we conducted a series of talks based on the outcomes of that meeting and his expressed wishes. These included meetings with the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM), political parties, and our political colleagues currently in prison.

Our visits and meetings began on 3 January with the Speaker of the Parliament, Mr. Numan Kurtulmuş, and continued with meetings with the leaders and representatives of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Future Party, Justice and Development Party (AKP), Felicity Party (SP), Republican People's Party (CHP), Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA), and the Re-Welfare Party (Yeniden Refah Partisi).

On 11-12 January, we also met with our former co-chairs and political colleagues currently in prison, including Ms. Figen Yüksekdağ, Mr. Selahattin Demirtaş, Ms. Leyla Güven, and Mr. Selçuk Mızraklı.

This process of dialogue and exchange of ideas, which focuses on peace, has also been initiated with our co-chairs, party committees, the political parties and formations that make up our coalition, our allied political parties, and civil society organizations.

We would first like to extend our sincere gratitude and respect to all the political parties and their esteemed leaders who received us with courtesy and good will, shared their valuable opinions and suggestions, and expressed their concerns and criticisms in a highly constructive manner.

The main focus of our meeting agendas was to convey the results of our discussion with Mr. Öcalan and evaluate the new developments together. These discussions centered around finding a lasting solution to the Kurdish question and the resulting conflict, the historical responsibility to strengthen the Turkish-Kurdish brotherhood, the obligations arising from the deep and irreversible developments in the Middle East, and the recognition of the Parliament and democratic politics as the most important platforms for resolving these issues.

Nearly all the meetings were positive, sincere, and encouraging. Leaders and their delegations expressed their principled support for a peace process. However, they also raised various concerns and made suggestions, primarily regarding the transparency of the process and the need for it to be conducted within the framework of the Parliament. Our delegation responded to these concerns and clarified ambiguities during the discussions.

Our impression from these meetings is that there is a shared desire and will among all political parties to move beyond the conflict and tension caused by the Kurdish question. There is a shared understanding that fostering the unity and brotherhood of all ethnic, religious, and sect groups in our country would benefit everyone. A parallel feeling is that the peace process should also contribute to general democratization and the expansion of the democratic political space.

Our discussions with our co-chairs and colleagues in prison were also highly constructive. They expressed their clear support for the role that Mr. Öcalan and the DEM Party will play in this process, and they stated that they are committed to fulfilling their responsibilities in strengthening the political and social groundwork.

In this period when we are focusing on peace, democracy, and brotherhood for Turkey and the region, we find that divisive and prejudiced language in the media, along with the speculation it creates, complicates our work. We are aware that this process carries not only the expectations and hopes of everyone but also their concerns, sensitivities, and questions. Given this, fabricating baseless claims, circulating unfounded rumors, and creating morally questionable agendas can only amount to warmongering.

With all the positive impressions we have gathered, we will make every effort to visit Mr. Öcalan again as soon as possible and work toward achieving peace through sound methods.

The continued support of the public for these efforts will remain the most valuable cornerstone in building peace and finding a solution."

After the second meeting in Imrali on 22 January 2025, the DEM Party Imrali delegation issued the following statement:

"As the DEM Party Imrali Delegation, we held a meeting with Mr. Abdullah Öcalan on İmralı Island on 22 January.

During the meeting, Mr. Öcalan first expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the tragic fire in Bolu and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

We provided him with the necessary information regarding the talks and meetings we have been holding.

Mr. Öcalan's work on the process continues. Necessary explanations will be made to the public after the preparations on the subject are completed.

As the delegation, we will carry on our work and talks, and we will inform the public as developments take place.

This process will help everyone, all of us, live together and freely. With the hope that this will be made possible, we look forward to the valuable contributions of all social segments."