The 12th Congress of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) was held between May 5 and 7 in the Medya Defense Zones. The final declaration and decisions of the congress were shared with the public on May 12. Xalide Engizek, a member of the congress chairing committee, stated that the PKK emerged at a time when the Kurdish people were facing an existential and freedom crisis, and that it had fulfilled its mission. She noted that they are now entering a new phase of struggle.

Engizek explained that the congress adopted historic decisions based on the paradigmatic, ideological, and philosophical foresight of President Öcalan. She said: "Our party, founded 52 years ago, was originally based on real socialism and the socialist state. That model has now run its course. We held our 12th congress on the foundation of the paradigm of democratic socialism. At this congress, the decision was made to dissolve the PKK and to end the armed struggle. Alongside these two historical decisions, other fundamental resolutions were also taken. Without a doubt, the PKK emerged when the Kurdish people in Kurdistan were experiencing an existential and freedom crisis. Nothing remained in the name of the Kurdish people, the Kurdish nation, or their presence in Kurdistan. The entire society, the nation, and especially women were subjected to physical and cultural genocide. The idea of existence, freedom, and independence in Kurdistan had been annihilated. The enemy even claimed on Mount Ağrı (Agirî) that it had buried Kurdistan. Among Kurds, there was a prevailing mentality: ‘We are like a dried-up tree, and a dry tree cannot turn green again.’

Kurdish identity emerged with the PKK

In such a situation, the entire process was initiated by the will and determination of President Öcalan. Initially influenced by leftist movements in Turkey, the founding group later formed around the Marxist idea that “Kurdistan is a colony.” This led to the establishment of the party. From that day on, the PKK carried out its struggle based on the principle of every nation’s right to self-determination. For 52 years, the PKK stood as the party of President Öcalan. In Kurdistan, where life, identity, and culture were under occupation, the PKK became the solution to the existential crisis. The Kurdish identity that emerged with the PKK grew and reached millions. Today, if Kurdishness, the Kurdish language, culture, and identity are spoken about, recognized, and respected across the world, it is thanks to the PKK."

We paid a heavy price in the war

Xalide Engizek stated that one of the most significant revolutions in the PKK’s 52-year struggle was the women’s revolution. She continued: "President Öcalan brought about three major births. The first was biological birth, the second was the founding of the party, and the third is defined as democratic modernity. Throughout this process, an unwavering struggle was waged. Armed resistance, organized struggle, and the battle for rebirth were pursued with determination. A tremendous willpower emerged through this resistance. More than 45,000 of our comrades became martyrs in this cause. We lost comrades, leading cadres, internationalist fighters from all parts of Kurdistan, women, and patriotic people. Hundreds of thousands were forcibly displaced, and Kurdistan’s nature was devastated. We paid a heavy price in this war.

Our people transformed their pain into a meaningful life

We gave our bravest sons and daughters to this cause, from Haki Karer to comrade Fuat, comrade Rıza, Sara, Bêrîtan, and Zîlan. I respectfully commemorate all martyrs of the Kurdish freedom struggle. They gave their lives without hesitation for the freedom of the Kurdish people and the peoples of the region. We will forever be indebted to them. These comrades not only fought and sacrificed their lives, but they also lit our path. They became the embodiment of comradeship, self-sacrifice, and humility. In this sense, the youth of Kurdistan, the women, the mothers and fathers endured immense suffering, but they turned their pain into a meaningful life. Thanks to the martyrs, to the blood that was shed, to the efforts of President Öcalan and of our people, we gained the ability to understand, to create meaning, to feel patriotism, and to develop consciousness. That is why we are proud of our martyrs and of our people."

The PKK united the four parts of Kurdistan

Xalide Engizek recalled that the PKK fought for more than half a century against both the fascism of the Turkish state and NATO forces, as well as international powers that sought to criminalize the PKK and captured President Öcalan. She underlined that all efforts to destroy, divide, and liquidate the PKK through conspiracies over the past 52 years have failed.

She said the path of betrayal that opposed the line of resistance has always been defeated, and continued: "In every sense, the line of President Öcalan, our ideology, and the legacy of our martyrs have prevailed. Every time the party faced crisis, our heroic comrades sacrificed themselves and brought the party back on course. For this, we are grateful to our martyrs. Our people should be proud of their children. These children are the brave sons and daughters of Kurdistan. They redefined courage, patriotism, love, and devotion. They answered the question of what is worth living for in Kurdistan with their blood, their lives, and their resistance. They united the four parts of Kurdistan. The blood of Rustems, Helmets, Viyans, Shirin Elemhulîs, and Akifs merged together. They created genuine patriotism. They erased the borders of Kurdistan, not only on maps but in hearts and minds. Today, the heartbeat of the Kurdish people resonates across all four parts of Kurdistan. This was made possible by the awareness raised by President Öcalan, the sacrifices of the martyrs, and the struggle of the people. For this reason, President Öcalan has continued to deepen his ideological and scientific thought. He developed the PKK not only as a movement for the Kurdish people, but as a path toward socialism for all humanity. He examined how a life lived wrongly could be lived rightly, and formed a philosophy around this understanding.

We are grateful to President Öcalan

He has been fighting for 52 years to build a political, moral, and socialist society, including 26 years spent in isolation in Imralı. He dedicated his entire life to this cause. President Öcalan opposed the system of capitalist modernity and male domination because he believed that life must be lived freely and meaningfully with women. He had the courage to confront this system, and for that, we are profoundly grateful. On this occasion, we send him our greetings, love, and longing. We must also engage in self-criticism, because throughout these 52 years, we have not been able to ease his burden. On the contrary, we became a burden. Had we truly implemented the struggle in the style and method of President Öcalan, the conspiracy might not have taken place, and he might not have been captured. It was our failure in comradeship that led to his capture. Yet even then, President Öcalan illuminated our path once again. This is why the PKK is the party of President Öcalan. It is a line, a way of life, and the very existence of the people of Kurdistan and of our comrades."

The PKK has fulfilled its mission

Xalide Engizek said: "The PKK may have dissolved in name and structure, but it lives on in every cell of our being.” She concluded: “The PKK is Mazlum, it is Kemal, Hayri, Zîlan, Bêrîtan, Fuat, and Rıza. That is why it has taken root in our hearts as a legend of freedom and resurrection. It will remain with us until the very end. The path carved by the PKK will live on under different names and forms. Our struggle will continue until we achieve a democratic, political, and moral society and fully dismantle the statist, male-dominated system. Of course, the methods will change, but our struggle will go on in all its forms. We will walk this path in the footsteps of President Öcalan, as part of his movement. I have participated in two PKK congresses: the 11th and the 12th. What I felt during this last one was clear. When I looked into the eyes of my comrades, I saw no regret. There may have been sorrow for what we failed to do, but the PKK was not defeated. It fulfilled its historical mission and is now undergoing a great transformation.

We are experiencing great excitement

President Öcalan has now offered an alternative to the ideological and systemic crisis we face today. As his militants and fighters, we are proud of this. Through his perspective, we believe we can overcome this ideological crisis and walk the path of democratic socialism. I saw this conviction in all our comrades. Without a doubt, we are filled with complex emotions, but we do not see this as an end. Our comrades share this same perspective. PKK militants are conscious and ideological; they are not ordinary fighters. We understand and internalize what President Öcalan has expressed. That is why we will follow his path to the very end. The dissolution of the PKK and the end of the armed struggle do not discourage us. As President Öcalan himself said, we are experiencing great excitement. This excitement is about building a democratic socialist society. As women, we know we must take the lead in this struggle. Once again, we will stand at the forefront of the fight for freedom.

I see myself as a warrior of the new era

Finally, once again, I respectfully commemorate all the martyrs of Kurdistan’s freedom struggle in the names of comrade Fuat and comrade Rıza. I bow before their memory. I hope that the 12th PKK Congress brings blessings for President Öcalan and for our people. I salute the new phase of the struggle being led by President Öcalan and see myself as a warrior of this new era. We will fight to the very end according to the guidance of President Öcalan, and I take pride in that. Finally, I want to say: ‘Bijî PKK’, ‘Şehîd namirin’, and ‘Bijî Serok Apo.’"