Abdullah Ocalan moved to new Imrali prison wing

The Kurdish peace process in Turkiye has faced a potential catalyst after authorities transferred the imprisoned PKK founder to a newly built section of his island prison.

Abdullah Ocalan, who has been held on Imrali island in the Sea of Marmara since 1999, was moved to the new facility on Saturday, according to Mithat Sancar of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM). Sancar, who is part of the delegation that visits Ocalan regularly, confirmed the news in an interview with Medya Haber TV. He argued that the change in conditions requires the government to speed up the peace process, which has been paused for the last two months. Sancar stated that the talks cannot continue with one side making unilateral demands.

Pervin Buldan, another DEM politician, offered a more cautious interpretation on Sunday. While she acknowledged that Ocalan had mentioned the transfer, she emphasized that the new facility remains inside the prison walls. Buldan warned against defining the political status of the process solely based on his physical location, suggesting the move is administrative rather than a release from confinement.

Kurdistan24, a broadcaster based in Erbil, described the new structure as a house built specifically for Ocalan on the island. The outlet reported that the transfer is viewed as a preparatory step to allow Ocalan a more active role in peace negotiations. Improved living conditions for the jailed leader have long been a central demand from Kurdish political groups.

Ocalan founded the Kurdistan Workers’ Party in 1978. The group initially sought an independent Kurdish state but later shifted its goals to autonomy and greater rights for Kurds in Turkiye. Kurds make up an estimated 15 to 20 percent of the country's population. The PKK launched an armed campaign against the Turkish state in 1984. Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union designate the organization as a terrorist group. The conflict between the state and the group has resulted in more than 40,000 deaths.

In February 2025, Ocalan called on the PKK to disband and disarm. The group announced its dissolution in May 2025. In August 2025, the Turkish parliament passed a law granting limited amnesty to PKK fighters. Since then, the PKK leadership has repeatedly demanded Ocalan’s release as a condition for the peace process.