Latest news with #ZagrosHiwa
LBCI
20-05-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
PKK urges Turkey to ease Ocalan's solitary confinement
The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) said Tuesday that Turkey should ease prison conditions for its founder, Abdullah Ocalan, announcing him as the group's "chief negotiator" for any future peace talks after a decision to disband. Zagros Hiwa, spokesman for the PKK's political wing, told AFP that "we expect that the Turkish state makes amendments in the solitary confinement conditions" of Ocalan and allow him "free and secure work conditions so that he could lead the process." AFP
Asharq Al-Awsat
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
PKK Urges Türkiye to Ease Imprisonment of 'Chief Negotiator' Ocalan
The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has said Türkiye should ease prison conditions for its founder Abdullah Ocalan, declaring him the group's "chief negotiator" for any future talks after a decision to disband. A spokesman for the Kurdish group, blacklisted as a "terrorist" organization by Ankara and its Western allies, told AFP in an interview on Monday that Türkiye has not yet provided guarantees for a peace process, and expressed objection to exiling PKK members. In recent months, the PKK has made several historic decisions, starting with announcing a ceasefire and ultimately declaring on May 12 its dissolution, ending a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state that cost more than 40,000 lives. The group's moves followed an appeal by Ocalan, made in a letter from Istanbul's Imrali prison island where he has been held in solitary confinement since 1999. Zagros Hiwa, spokesman for the PKK's political wing, told AFP in a written interview that "as an organization which has waged military struggle for 41 years, we have decided to dissolve and put an end to armed struggle." "By this, we give peace a real chance." "So from now on, we expect that the Turkish state makes amendments in the solitary confinement conditions" of Ocalan, and allow him "free and secure work conditions so that he could lead the process," Hiwa said. "Leader Apo is our chief negotiator" for any talks with Türkiye, he added, referring to Ocalan. The spokesman said that "only Leader Apo can lead the practical implementation of the decision" taken by the PKK congress earlier this month to disband, paving the way for a political settlement. The dissolution mechanisms are unclear yet, but the Turkish government has said it would carefully monitor the process to ensure full implementation. Hiwa said the implementation would be addressed in Ocalan's negotiations with Turkish officials.
Al Arabiya
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
PKK rejects ‘exile' from Turkey after disarmament
The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has expressed objection for its members to be exiled from Turkey under any future peace talks with Ankara, following a historic decision to disband. 'Real peace requires integration, not exile,' Zagros Hiwa, spokesman for the PKK's political wing, told AFP in an interview on Monday, adding that 'if the Turkish state is sincere and serious about making peace, it should make the necessary legal amendments so that PKK members would be integrated' into society.
Arab News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
PKK urges Turkiye to ease leader's solitary confinement for any peace talks
SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq: The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has said Türkiye should ease prison conditions for its founder Abdullah Ocalan, declaring him the group's 'chief negotiator' for any future talks after a decision to disband. The Kurdish group, blacklisted by Ankara and its Western allies, announced on May 12 it had adopted a decision to disarm and disband after a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state that cost more than 40,000 lives. The group's historic decision came after an appeal by Ocalan, made in a letter from Istanbul's Imrali prison island where he has been held since 1999. Zagros Hiwa, spokesman for the PKK's political wing, told AFP on Monday that 'we expect that the Turkish state makes amendments in the solitary confinement conditions' to allow Ocalan 'free and secure work conditions so that he could lead the process.' 'Leader Apo is our chief negotiator' for any talks with Türkiye, Hiwa added in an interview, referring to Ocalan. 'Only Leader Apo can lead the practical implementation of the decision taken by the PKK.' The disbanding mechanisms are unclear yet, but the Turkish government has said it would carefully monitor the process to ensure full implementation. Hiwa said the PKK has shown 'seriousness regarding peace,' but 'till now the Turkish state has not given any guarantees and taken any measure for facilitating the process' and continued its 'bombardments and artillery shellings' against the Kurdish group's positions. The PKK operates rear bases in Iraq's autonomous northern Kurdistan region, where Türkiye also maintains military bases and often carries out air and ground operations against the Kurdish militants. Turkish media reports have suggested that militants who had committed no crime on Turkish soil could return without fear of prosecution, but that PKK leaders might be forced into exile or stay behind in Iraq. Hiwa said the PKK objects to its members or leaders being forced to leave, saying that 'real peace requires integration, not exile.'
