Eighty two Nobel Laureates have sent a letter to Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe for Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's "right to hope". 

 

The letter reads: 

 

"To the Attention of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe,

 

We, the undersigned Nobel Laureates, support ongoing efforts to advance peace through dialogue and democratic means in the Middle East - particularly in Turkey and in Kurdish regions of Syria and Iran, where  new peace initiatives continue to emerge. In this context, we recognize Abdullah Öcalan as a key initiator of  the current peace process in Turkey, whose influence extends to developments in neighboring Kurdish 

regions. At a time of escalating global conflict, it is imperative to uphold the prospect of peace and to support those working to achieve it. We therefore call for Mr. Öcalan, as a central interlocutor and architect of these efforts, to be enabled to fulfill this role.

 

As Nobel Laureates, we have written to you on several occasions regarding Mr. Öcalan’s imprisonment, as well as that of other political prisoners in Turkey. Most recently, in 2025, 88 Nobel Laureates signed a letter supporting his February 2025 call for ‘Peace and a Democratic Society.’ In that letter, we advocated for Mr. Öcalan to be given the opportunity to participate meaningfully in the peace process, for his “right to hope” to 

be recognized, for his legal status to be clarified, and for his eventual freedom.

 

Over the past year, developments have shown that Mr. Öcalan has consistently lived up to his word. Following his call, the PKK in 2025 declared a unilateral ceasefire, convened its congress, dissolved its organizational structure, held a symbolic ceremony marking the end of armed struggle, and withdrew its forces from Kurdish regions of Turkey. In this regard, Mr. Öcalan’s actions - in the promotion of coexistence between nations, calling of peace conferences and efforts towards disarmament - follow the core criteria Alfred Nobel established for the Nobel Peace Prize. As Nobel Laureates, we recognize and support these initiatives.

 

As part of this broader process, the Turkish Grand National Assembly established the National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission, which visited İmralı Island in November 2025 to meet with Mr. Öcalan, de facto acknowledging his role as a key interlocutor. In February 2026, the Commission released its final report. Although the report emphasizes the importance of full compliance with the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the Constitutional Court (AYM) and recommends strengthening existing mechanisms, its continued use of the framework of counterterrorism remains a barrier to true dialogue and reconciliation. 

 

On the anniversary of his 2025 call, Mr. Öcalan issued a further statement reaffirming his commitment to peace and the democratization of the Republic of Turkey. 

 

Beyond Turkey, Mr. Öcalan has continued to advocate for peaceful solutions. During renewed conflict in Syria, he addressed key actors with calls for de-escalation, dialogue, and negotiation as the only viable path to lasting peace. Similarly, in the context of escalating tensions and war in Iran, Kurdish actors guided by principles of democratic inclusion and peaceful resolution have demonstrated the broader regional influence of his approach. At a time of expanding conflict in the Middle East, his consistent advocacy for dialogue guided Kurdish communities and organizations toward peaceful and democratic solutions.

 

International support remains essential for Turkey’s democratic transition. Abdullah Öcalan and the Kurdish movement have taken concrete steps; however, the risk persists that actors inclined toward violence could derail the process through provocation. Sustained international assistance is therefore needed to support those who actively seek democratic progress. It is both in the Council of Europe’s interest that member states uphold fundamental standards of human rights and the rule of law, and, in the context of the ongoing process, a historic opportunity and responsibility to pave the way for peace.  

 

In this light, we call on the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers to ensure the implementation of the ECHR 2014 decision against aggravated life sentences, and on the “right to hope.” This constitutes a crucial first step toward addressing Mr. Öcalan’s legal status and enabling him to contribute fully to the peace process. We call for Abdullah Öcalan's release and for him to be given full and unrestricted opportunity to participate in the further peace process. At this critical moment, the world is in urgent need of leaders who are committed to peace."