Ocalan moves to new wing after 27 years in Turkish island prison

Abdullah Ocalan has been held on Imrali island for 27 years, a duration that underscores the stagnation of the peace process now facing renewed pressure. Turkish authorities have moved the jailed founder of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party to a newly built section of the prison, according to pro-Kurdish legislators who visited him this week. The transfer occurred on the island in the Sea of Marmara, where Ocalan has been detained since his capture in 1999. The move follows a two-month pause in diplomatic efforts between Ankara and Kurdish leaders.

Mithat Sancar, a member of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party delegation, confirmed the relocation during an interview with Medya Haber TV on Saturday. Sancar argued that the change in Ocalan’s living quarters requires Ankara to move faster. He stated that the peace process cannot continue with unilateral demands, noting the current standstill. Fellow politician Pervin Buldan reported on Sunday that Ocalan himself announced the move. However, she cautioned that the new facility is still within the prison walls and does not automatically alter his legal status.

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party was established in 1978 by Ocalan and other members who initially sought an independent Kurdish state. The group later shifted its goals toward autonomy and greater rights for Turkey’s Kurdish population, estimated at 15 to 20 percent of the total. The organization launched an armed campaign against the Turkish state in 1984. Both the United States and the European Union designate the PKK as a terrorist organization, a label that has complicated negotiations. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of more than 40,000 people over the decades.

Kurdistan24, a broadcaster based in Erbil, described the new area as a house built specifically for Ocalan. The outlet suggested the move prepares the ground for a more active role for the founder in the peace talks. Improved conditions for Ocalan have long been a primary demand from Kurdish factions. In February of last year, Ocalan called on the PKK to disband and disarm. The group announced its dissolution in May. Turkey’s parliament adopted a law in August providing limited amnesty for PKK fighters. The PKK leadership continues to demand Ocalan’s release as a central component of the agreement.

The peace process had been paused for two months prior to the transfer. Sancar and other DEM members view the new facility as a signal that Ankara intends to resume engagement. The legislation passed in August aims to regularize the status of fighters who have laid down their arms. Ocalan’s continued detention on Imrali remains a focal point for Kurdish political parties as they push for concrete steps toward an end to the conflict. The next phase of the process will depend on whether the Turkish government accepts the conditions outlined by Kurdish leaders.