Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned founder of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has accused unnamed actors of attempting to undermine Turkey’s fragile peace efforts following recent clashes in north-eastern Syria between Syrian government forces and Kurdish groups.
The warning was conveyed on Sunday by a delegation from Turkey’s pro-Kurdish DEM Party after a visit to Öcalan at İmralı prison, where he has been held since his arrest in 1999. According to the delegation, Öcalan described the fighting in Syria as a deliberate effort to derail what he referred to as the “peace and democratic society process” underway in Turkey.
The delegation said Öcalan believes the renewed violence risks damaging dialogue initiatives that some Kurdish political actors regard as central to reaching a political settlement to the long-running Kurdish question in Turkey. In their account, he stressed that instability across the Syrian border directly affects prospects for negotiations between the Turkish state and representatives linked to the Kurdish movement.
The peace process Öcalan referred to relates to intermittent talks held over the past decade between Ankara and Kurdish actors, aimed at securing a lasting ceasefire and opening political channels to address Kurdish demands. Although those talks have repeatedly stalled, Öcalan remains a powerful symbolic figure for many Kurds, with his views continuing to carry political weight despite his long imprisonment.
The security situation in north-eastern Syria remains highly complex. The region hosts Kurdish-led forces such as the People’s Protection Units (YPG) and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), alongside Syrian government troops, Turkish military elements and various international actors. Analysts say clashes between these forces can quickly spill over into neighbouring countries, influencing internal political dynamics in Turkey and beyond.
The DEM Party delegation not only relayed Öcalan’s criticism but also called for de-escalation and a return to dialogue. It warned that rising tensions in Syria could further weaken hopes for political reforms and negotiated solutions sought by sections of the Kurdish population.
Beyond Turkey and Syria, observers note that renewed instability could have wider regional consequences, including increased displacement and migration flows. The broader geopolitical contest involving Russia, the United States, Iran and Turkey in Syria also continues to shape security calculations well beyond the Middle East.
Öcalan’s latest remarks have reignited debate over the future of peace efforts, with his supporters arguing that renewed dialogue and restraint remain essential for achieving lasting stability for Kurdish communities and their neighbours.
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