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PKK Rebrands as 'Apocu Movement Leadership,' Links Progress to Öcalan's Status
🇹🇷 Turkey /Conflict & Security

PKK Rebrands as 'Apocu Movement Leadership,' Links Progress to Öcalan's Status

From Cumhuriyet · (7m ago) Turkish Critical tone

Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The PKK, a designated terrorist organization, has rebranded itself as the 'Apocu Movement Leadership' one year after announcing its dissolution.
  • The group claims to have taken radical steps like dissolving the PKK and ending armed struggle based on a belief in Abdullah Öcalan's "solution power."
  • The statement criticizes Turkish government officials and pro-government media for creating negative perceptions and hindering a democratic solution, linking progress to Öcalan's status.

In a significant development, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), long designated as a terrorist organization, has resurfaced under a new guise: the 'Apocu Movement Leadership.' This rebranding, occurring one year after the group announced its dissolution, signals a strategic shift in its operational and public relations approach. The group's statement, released on the anniversary of its purported disbandment, asserts that it has undertaken radical decisions, including the dissolution of the PKK and the cessation of armed conflict, driven by a faith in the "solution power" of its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Öcalan.

Rêber Apo, MHP genel başkanı ve iktidar ortağı Devlet Bahçeli’nin 22 Ekim 2024 tarihinde yaptığı çağrısına, devlet içinde bir çözüm iradesinin olabileceğini düşünerek olumlu cevap vermiştir

— Apocu Hareket YönetimiThe 'Apocu Movement Leadership' claims that Abdullah Öcalan responded positively to a call from Devlet Bahçeli, believing in a potential solution within the state.

The statement directly references a call made by Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and a key figure in Turkey's ruling coalition, on October 22, 2024. The 'Apocu Movement Leadership' claims that Öcalan responded positively to Bahçeli's call, believing in the potential for a resolution within the state framework. The group further states that its co-chair, Besê Hozat, along with 30 guerrillas, burned their weapons on July 11, 2025, as a demonstration of their commitment to a democratic solution, implying that thousands more would follow suit if legal and political conditions were met. This narrative attempts to frame the group's actions as steps toward peace, contingent on state-level reforms.

Özgürlük Hareketimiz, PKK’nin feshi ve silahlı mücadelenin sonlandırılması gibi çok radikal kararları Rêber Apo’nun çözüm gücüne inandığı için almıştır.

— Apocu Hareket YönetimiThe group states that radical decisions like dissolving the PKK and ending armed struggle were made due to belief in Öcalan's 'solution power'.

However, the statement also expresses strong criticism towards certain government officials and media outlets in Turkey. The 'Apocu Movement Leadership' accuses them of fostering negative public perceptions and obstructing a democratic solution, rather than preparing public opinion for reconciliation. The group explicitly links the advancement of any "process" to the resolution of Öcalan's status, asserting that true progress can only be spoken of when he is granted freedom and operates under conditions that allow for his work. This demand positions Öcalan's personal status as the central, non-negotiable element for any potential peace or political settlement concerning the Kurdish issue in Turkey, reflecting a persistent demand for Kurdish self-determination and recognition.

Biz, demokratik siyasal çözüm için Kürt kamuoyunu hazırlama ve Türkiye halklarına olumlu mesajlar verme konusunda hassas davranırken, bazı iktidar sözcüleri ve iktidara yakın basın, bırakalım kamuoyunu hazırlamayı, aksine kamuoyunda olumsuz algılar yaratan bir tutum içinde olmuşlardır.

— Apocu Hareket YönetimiThe group criticizes Turkish government officials and pro-government media for creating negative perceptions instead of preparing the public for a democratic solution.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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