Abdullah Ocalan moved to new wing of Imrali island prison

Abdullah Ocalan, the founder of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, was transferred to a newly built section of the prison on Imrali island. Pro-Kurdish legislators confirmed the move on Saturday, framing it as a necessary step to restart a peace process that has stalled for two months.

Mithat Sancar, a member of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party delegation that visits Ocalan regularly, spoke to the Kurdish television channel Medya Haber TV. He stated that the relocation necessitates an acceleration of the peace talks. Sancar argued that the process cannot proceed with unilateral expectations and demands from either side.

The relocation places Ocalan in a new facility constructed for him on the island. The Erbil-based broadcaster Kurdistan24 described the structure as a new house built specifically for the PKK leader. Kurdish observers view the improved conditions as a key demand in ongoing negotiations. They see the move as part of preparations to give Ocalan a more active role in the peace efforts.

Pervin Buldan, a fellow politician from the DEM party, offered a more cautious interpretation on Sunday. She noted that Ocalan himself announced the transfer but downplayed its immediate impact. Buldan clarified that the new facility is part of the prison, not a location outside of it. She stated that the question of Ocalan’s status cannot be defined solely by his move to this specific location.

Ocalan has been held on Imrali, an island in the Sea of Marmara, since his capture in 1999. He founded the PKK in 1978. The group initially fought for an independent Kurdish state but shifted its demands to autonomy and greater rights for Turkiye’s Kurds. Kurds make up an estimated 15 to 20 percent of the Turkish population. The conflict has killed more than 40,000 people. Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union designate the PKK as a terrorist organization.

In February of last year, Ocalan called on the PKK to disband and disarm. The group announced its dissolution that May. Turkiye’s parliament adopted a law in August offering limited amnesty for PKK fighters. The PKK leadership has repeatedly demanded Ocalan’s release as part of the ongoing process.