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136-426: The four founding principles of Kongreya Star are as such: The Congress of Kongreya Star is an event head every two years in which all the organizations and groups under the umbrella movement of Kongreya Star assemble to reflect on work done in the past as well as goals for the future. Each congress has embraced the decision to fight for the freedom of leader Abdullah Öcalan , whose democratic confederalism has become

272-613: A "civic and social" establishments that work to "raise awareness of women and family issues and to solve the social and human rights problems that women face." The first women's house was created in March 2011 in Qamishli by women who referred to themselves as the "suicide group" because of their determination to make progress towards social justice. Due to mistrust and internalized sexism, the women's houses were not popular at first. Nonetheless, popularity grew over time as women came to understand that

408-757: A 7-point peace plan according to which the Turkish attacks on Kurdish villages should stop, the refugees would be allowed to return, the Kurdish people would be granted autonomy within Turkey, the Kurds would receive the equal democratic rights as the Turks and the Turkish government supported village guards system shall come to an end and the Kurdish language and culture was to be officially recognized. In January 1999 during his stay in Europe, Öcalan saw

544-722: A capital punishment. But Italy also didn't want Öcalan to stay, and pulled several diplomatic strings to compel him to leave the country, which was accomplished on 16 January when he departed to Nizhny Novgorod in hope to find a safe haven in Russia. But in Russia he was not as much welcomed as in October, and he had to wait for a week at the airport of Strigino International Airport in Nizhny Novgorod. From Russia, he took an airplane from Saint Petersburg to Greece where he arrived in Athens upon

680-566: A ceasefire between the PKK and the Turkish state. Öcalan's statement was read to hundreds of thousands of Kurds in Diyarbakır who had gathered to celebrate the Kurdish New Year ( Newroz ). The statement said in part, "Let guns be silenced and politics dominate... a new door is being opened from the process of armed conflict to democratization and democratic politics. It's not the end. It's the start of

816-451: A democratic confederation of Kurdish communities beyond the state borders of Syria, Iran, Iraq, and Turkey. Öcalan promoted a platform of shared values: environmentalism, self-defense, gender equality, and a pluralistic tolerance for religion, politics, and culture. While some of his followers questioned Öcalan's conversion from Marxism-Leninism to social ecology , the PKK adopted Öcalan's proposal and began to form assemblies. It became also

952-420: A democratic social economy" for women and Northern Syria, with the goal of actualizing a model of "effort and value." The committee seeks to pursue collective economy in the communes that "takes in complimentary support," and to build women's self confidence so that they may combat capitalism. The Women's Economic Committee holds training courses in the communes, designed to show an alternative to capitalism, with

1088-413: A difficult marriage with reportedly many disputes and discussions. In 1988, while representing the PKK in Athens , Greece , his wife unsuccessfully attempted to overthrow Öcalan, following which Yildirim went underground. After his sister Havva was married to a man from another village in an arranged marriage , he felt regret. This event led Öcalan to his policies towards the liberation of women from

1224-474: A disadvantaged relationship with a man. According to his own account, while his father is Kurdish, his mother is Turkmen. According to some sources, Öcalan's grandmother was an ethnic Turk. Öcalan's mother, Esma Öcalan (Uveys) was rather dominant and criticised his father, blaming him for their dire economic situation. He later explained in an interview that it was in his childhood he learned to defend himself from injustice. Like many Kurds in Turkey , Öcalan

1360-630: A limited amnesty, but it didn't pass due to resistance from the far-right around the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). In January 2000 the Turkish government declared the death sentence was delayed until the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) reviewed the verdict. Upon the abolition of the death penalty in Turkey in August 2002, in October of that year, the security court commuted his sentence to life imprisonment . In an attempt to reach

1496-409: A meeting with Murray Bookchin through Öcalan's lawyers, describing himself as Bookchin's "student" eager to adapt Bookchin's thought to Middle Eastern society. Bookchin was too ill to meet with Öcalan. Democratic confederalism is a "system of popularly elected administrative councils, allowing local communities to exercise autonomous control over their assets, while linking to other communities via

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1632-684: A move which was repeated by Panayioitis Sgouridis  [ el ] , the deputy speaker of the Greek Parliament at the time. Öcalan then chose to travel to Italy , where he landed on 12 November 1998 at the airport in Rome . In 1998 the Turkish government requested the extradition of Öcalan from Italy, where he applied for political asylum upon his arrival. He was detained by the Italian authorities due to an arrest warrant issued by Germany. But Italy did not extradite him to Germany, who refused to hold

1768-448: A network of confederal councils." Decisions are made by communes in each neighborhood, village, or city. All are welcome to partake in the communal councils, but political participation is not mandated. There is no private property, but rather "ownership by use, which grants individuals usage rights to the buildings, land, and infrastructure, but not the right to sell and buy on the market or convert them to private enterprises". The economy

1904-865: A new era." Soon after Öcalan's declaration, the functional head of the PKK, Murat Karayılan responded by promising to implement a ceasefire. During the peace process, the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) entered parliament during the parliamentarian election of June 2015 . The ceasefire ended after in July 2015 two Turkish police officers were killed in Ceylanpinar . Since his incarceration, Öcalan has significantly changed his ideology through exposure to Western social theorists such as Murray Bookchin , Immanuel Wallerstein and Hannah Arendt . Abandoning his old Marxism-Leninist and Stalinist beliefs, Öcalan fashioned his ideal society called democratic confederalism . In early 2004, Öcalan attempted to arrange

2040-532: A proper education, not only will they be able to begin to dismantle power structures in which men dominate, but also play a more active role in society. As Kongreya Star believes "emancipation can only occur when one knows oneself and one's history," having an accurate education that focuses on understanding the past and cultural conflicts is essential for the further liberation of women. The educational goals of Kongreya Star are centered around understanding and dismantling current structures and institutions of power. In

2176-466: A space devoted to women guerrillas who have fallen in the struggle. There is also Kuncika Malame : a forum for readers and followers to share feelings, poems, memories and stories, as well as a space for mothers to discuss handicrafts." In December 2017, in a collaboration between the Jin News Agency and other women's media projects, a live broadcast of Star FM was started. The first women's house,

2312-562: A terrorist organization. The flag of the YPG is also a banned symbol in Germany as per Strafgesetzbuch section 86a , although the organization itself is not recognised as terrorist. Finland and Sweden's alleged support for the YPG, is one of the points which caused Turkey to oppose Finland and Sweden's NATO accession bid . In June 2022, then–Finnish President Sauli Niinistö announced in Madrid , after

2448-520: A trial on Öcalan in its country. The German chancellor Gerhard Schröder as well as the Minister of the Interior Otto Schily preferred that Öcalan would be tried by an unspecified "European Court". Italy also didn't extradite him to Turkey. The Italian prime minister Massimo D'Alema announced it was contrary to Italian law to extradite someone to a country where the defendant is threatened with

2584-589: A verdict which was more favorable to Öcalan, he appealed at the ECHR at Strasbourg , which accepted the case in June 2004. In 2005, the ECHR ruled that Turkey had violated articles 3, 5, and 6 of the European Convention of Human Rights by refusing to allow Öcalan to appeal his arrest and by sentencing him to death without a fair trial. Öcalan's request for a retrial was refused by Turkish courts. After his capture, Öcalan

2720-571: A weapon against capitalism. "We need to change the capitalist mentality – which is a patriarchal mentality – which seeks to make profit out of everything. But we cannot allow woman to become independent from man by putting herself in an exploited position [of employment]. It is not about integrating her into a capitalist system through work, it's about building up a new economic system." — Arin Khalil, Women's Economy Committee in Qamishlo Jineology ('

2856-541: A week. The new prison was built after the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture visited the island and objected to the conditions in which he was being held. From 27 July 2011 until 2 May 2019 his lawyers have not been allowed to see Abdullah Öcalan. From July 2011 until December 2017 his lawyers filed more than 700 appeals for visits, but all were rejected. There have been held regular demonstrations by

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2992-501: A wholly Kurdish force, the YPG began to recruit Arabs from at least 2012. In July 2012, the YPG had a standoff with Syrian government forces in the Kurdish city of Kobanî and the surrounding areas. After negotiations, government forces withdrew and the YPG took control of Kobanî , Amuda , and Afrin . By December 2012, it had expanded to eight brigades , which were formed in Qamishlo , Kobanî, and Ras al-Ayn (Serê Kaniyê), and in

3128-617: Is a Kurdish militant group in Syria and the primary component of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). YPG provides updates about its activities through YPG Press Office Telegram channel and social media accounts. The YPG mostly consists of Kurds , but also includes Arabs and foreign volunteers ; it is closely allied to the Syriac Military Council , an Assyrian militia. The YPG was formed in 2011. It expanded rapidly in

3264-539: Is a newspaper that reported on the Kurdish-Turkish conflict, under the pseudonym of Ali Firat. People%27s Protection Units Iraqi Civil War Nalîn Dêrik Sozdar Dêrik Serhildan Garisî Foreign intervention in behalf of Syrian rebels U.S.-led intervention against ISIL 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 The People's Defense Units ( YPG ), also called People's Protection Units ,

3400-510: Is a political prisoner and founding member of the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Öcalan was based in Syria from 1979 to 1998. He helped found the PKK in 1978, and led it into the Kurdish–Turkish conflict in 1984. For most of his leadership, he was based in Syria, which provided sanctuary to the PKK until the late 1990s. After being forced to leave Syria, Öcalan was abducted by

3536-623: Is autonomy. Although operating under an overarching tactical rubric, YPG brigades are inculcated with a high degree of freedom and can adapt to the changing battlefield. The YPG relies heavily on snipers and backs them by suppressing enemy fire using mobile heavy machine guns. It also uses roadside bombs to prevent outflanking maneuvers, particularly at night. Its lines have generally held when attacked by Islamic State (IS) forces who have better equipment, including helmets and body armor. The YPG and People's Defense Forces (HPG) have also trained and equipped more than 1,000 Yazidis , who operate in

3672-455: Is his niece. Ömer Öcalan , a current member of parliament for the HDP, is his nephew. Several localities have awarded him with an honorary citizenship: Öcalan is the author of more than 40 books, four of which were written in prison. Many of the notes taken from his weekly meetings with his lawyers have been edited and published. He has also written articles for the newspaper Özgür Gündem which

3808-465: Is in the hands of the communal councils, and is thus (in the words of Bookchin) 'neither collectivised nor privatised - it is common.' Feminism , ecology , and direct democracy are essential in democratic confederalism. With his 2005 "Declaration of Democratic Confederalism in Kurdistan", Öcalan advocated for a Kurdish implementation of Bookchin's The Ecology of Freedom via municipal assemblies as

3944-447: Is overseeing the education committees within the women's communes. The education committee is burdened with providing practical and ideological training to all commune members. While they have empirical courses, such as language classes, their main focuses is teaching the ideals of democratic confederalism . The committee has five departments focused on research, training educators which can provide courses with their respective lectures for

4080-626: Is responsible for chronicling women's practical talents, such as "making medicines, making carpets, storytelling, and music; as well as archiving words, proverbs, and stories that represent the history and culture of all the peoples of the region." This department is responsible for preparing academic training materials, such as lectures and posters, for instructors and the training committee to use. The department prepares lectures on "culture, human rights, health, social and economic empowerment, management, gender equality, women's leadership, women's psychology, how to raise children, child marriage, how to use

4216-517: Is split into five focuses: The Department of Research focuses on analyzing conflicts faced in Northern Syria, especially those conflicts faced by women. Through a series of questionnaires, data is collected to be summarized in a report and dispersed throughout the region by way of panel discussions and lectures. With the objective of training instructors, the Department of Trainer Education "defines

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4352-613: Is that Euphrates Volcano was limited to coordinating the activities of independent Kurdish and Arab groups, while the SDF is a single organisation made up of Kurds, Arabs, and Assyrians . The first success of the SDF was the capture of the strategic ethnically Arab town of al-Hawl from IS during the al-Hawl offensive in November 2015. This was followed in December by the Tishrin Dam offensive . The dam

4488-467: Is the re-education of men and the unlearning of the patriarchy. Both men and women must understand that as women take on a larger role in society, men's roles will have to change in order to accommodate this transformation. Furthermore, they preach education as a method of self-defense. According to Kongreya Star, those who know their culture's history, politics, language, etc. are better equipped to defend themselves against dominance and use their education as

4624-799: The 1999 attack on the Israeli consulate in Berlin. A group named the Revenge Hawks of Apo set fire to a department store in Kadiköy Istanbul, causing the death of 13 people. In several European capitals and larger cities as well as in Iraq, Iran and also Turkey protests were organized against his capture. He was brought to İmralı island, where he was interrogated for a period of 10 days without being allowed to see or speak to his lawyers. A state security court consisting of one military and two civilian judges

4760-578: The Free Syrian Army and IS in January 2014. The YPG collaborated with FSA groups to fight IS in Raqqa province; the group also formed an operations room with multiple FSA factions, called Euphrates Volcano . However, the general outcome of this campaign was a massive advance by IS, which effectively separated the eastern part of Rojava from the main force of FSA rebels. IS followed up on its success by attacking

4896-537: The Mount Sinjar area as local defense units under their supervision. The YPG calls itself a people's army, and therefore appoints officers by internal elections. A 20-year-old female YPJ fighter named Zlukh Hamo (Nom de guerre: Avesta Khabur) was reported to have carried out a suicide attack towards Turkish troops and a tank during the early phase of the Afrin Offensive , killing herself and several soldiers in

5032-631: The Syrian Civil War and came to predominate over other armed Syrian Kurdish groups. A sister militia, the Women's Protection Units (YPJ), fights alongside them. The YPG is active in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (Rojava), particularly in its Kurdish regions . In early 2015, the group won a major victory over the Islamic State (IS) during the siege of Kobanî , where

5168-610: The Title Deeds Office of Diyarbakır . It was at this time his political affiliation began to take a form. He was relocated one year later to Istanbul where he participated in the meetings of the Revolutionary Cultural Eastern Hearths (DDKO). Later, he entered the Istanbul Law Faculty but after the first year transferred to Ankara University to study political science. His return to Ankara

5304-655: The Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) in Nairobi , Kenya in February 1999 and imprisoned on İmralı island in Turkey, where after a trial he was sentenced to death under Article 125 of the Turkish Penal Code, which concerns the formation of armed organizations. The sentence was commuted to aggravated life imprisonment when Turkey abolished the death penalty . From 1999 until 2009, he

5440-677: The al-Shaddadi offensive , followed by the Manbij offensive in May, and the Raqqa and Aleppo offensives in November. These operations extended SDF-controlled territory, usually at IS's expense. On 7 April 2016, the Kurdish neighborhood of Sheikh Maqsood in Aleppo was shelled with mortars that may have contained chemical agents (160 killed or wounded). Spokesperson for the YPG said that Saudi Arabia -backed Jaysh al-Islam (Army of Islam) rebel group has attacked

5576-503: The conquest of Tell Abyad , linking up Kobanî with Hasakah in July 2015. With the capture of Tell Abyad, the YPG has also broken a major supply route of fighters and goods for the Islamic State. With these offensives, the YPG had begun to make advances into areas that did not always have a Kurdish majority. When the YPG and the FSA entered the border town of Tell Abyad in June 2015, parts of

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5712-523: The ADYÖD several students close to the political views of Hikmet Kıvılcımlı were active. In December 1974, ADYÖD was closed down. In 1975, together with Mazlum Doğan and Mehmet Hayri Durmuş  [ ku ] , he published a political booklet which described the main aims for a Revolution in Kurdistan . During meetings in Ankara between 1974 and 1975, Öcalan and others came to the conclusion that Kurdistan

5848-423: The ECHR ruled in that there was a violation of article 3 in regards of him being to only prisoner on İmarli island until 17 November 2009, as well as the impossibility to appeal his verdict. On 6 September 2018 visits from lawyers were banned for six months due to former punishments he received in the years 2005–2009, the fact that the lawyers made their conversations with Ocalan public, and the impression that Öcalan

5984-693: The FSA and IS had led to a normalization in the relations between FSA and YPG since the end of 2013. In February 2015, the YPG signed a judicial agreement with the Levant Front in Aleppo . The YPG was able and willing to offensively engage and put pressure on IS and had built up a track record as a reliable military partner of the US. In 2015, the YPG began its advance on Tel Abyad , a move they have planned for since November 2013. With American close air support, offensives near Hasakah and from Hasakah westward culminated in

6120-785: The German MP Heinrich Lummer of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) he held meetings in October 1995 in Damascus and March 1996, during which they discussed the PKK's activities in Germany. Öcalan assured him that the PKK would support a peaceful solution for the conflict. Back in Germany, Lummer made a statement in support for further negotiations with Öcalan. With time, the United States (1997), European Union , Syria , Turkey, and other countries have included

6256-746: The Greek embassy to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, in an operation by the Turkish National Intelligence Organization ( Turkish : Millî İstihbarat Teşkilatı , MIT) with the help of the CIA . According to the Turkish newspaper Vatan , the Americans transferred him to the Turkish authorities, who flew him back to Turkey for trial. Following his capture, the Greek Government

6392-546: The Islamic State, AFVs left behind by the Syrian Arab Army (SyAA), equipment turned over by the SyAA in exchange for a safe passage (for example, after retreating from Mennagh airbase in 2014), and armoured vehicles donated by the US for light armoured vehicles and true armour. While other Syrian Civil War factions, such as the Islamic State , amassed an arsenal of hundreds of tanks and other armored fighting vehicles captured from

6528-506: The Kurdish community to raise awareness of the isolation of Öcalan. In October 2012 several hundred Kurdish political prisoners went on hunger strike for better detention conditions for Öcalan and the right to use the Kurdish language in education and jurisprudence. The hunger strike lasted 68 days until Öcalan demanded its end. Öcalan was banned from receiving visits almost two years from 6 October 2014 until 11 September 2016, when his brother Mehmet Öcalan visited him for Eid al-Adha . In 2014

6664-606: The Kurdish liberation movements of the PKK and the one active against Saddam Hussein in Iraq. In negotiations between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the PKK, it was agreed that the latter was able to move freely in Iraqi Kurdistan . He also met twice with Masoud Barzani , the leader of the KDP in Damascus , to resolve some minor issues they had once in 1984 and another time in 1985. But due to pressure from Turkey

6800-455: The Kurdish neighborhood of Aleppo with "forbidden weapons" many times since the war's start. The Women's Protection Units (YPJ), also known as the Women's Defense Units, is the YPG's female brigade, which was set up in 2012. Kurdish media have said that YPJ troops became vital during the siege of Kobanî . Consisting of approximately 20,000 fighters, they make up around 40% of the YPG. In 2017,

6936-563: The PKK and Turkish security forces. A similar structure began functioning in May 2006. In March 2005, Öcalan issued the Declaration of Democratic confederalism in Kurdistan calling for a border-free confederation between the Kurdish regions of Southeastern Turkey (called " Northern Kurdistan " by Kurds ), Northeast Syria (" Western Kurdistan "), Northern Iraq (" South Kurdistan "), and Northwestern Iran (" East Kurdistan "). In this zone, three bodies of law would be implemented: EU law , Turkish/Syrian/Iraqi/Iranian law and Kurdish law. This proposal

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7072-404: The PKK on their lists of terrorist organizations. A Greek parliamentary delegation from the PASOK came to visit him in the Beqaa valley on 17 October 1996. During his stay in Syria he has published several books concerning the Kurdish revolution. On at least one occasion, in 1993, he was detained and held by Syria's General Intelligence Directorate , but later released. Until 1998, Öcalan

7208-423: The PKK, an attempt to assassinate him in a house in Damascus, was unsuccessful. Following the protests which arose against the prohibition of the PKK in Germany, Öcalan had several meetings with politicians from Germany who came to hold talks with him. In the summer of 1995 the president of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Verfassungsschutz) Klaus Grünewald came to visit him, And with

7344-468: The Rojava Revolution, Kurdish media was heavily suppressed by the Ba'ath regime in an effort to promote Arabization and the abolition of the Kurdish culture and language. During their careers, Kurdish media personnel faced legal punishment, threats, and occasionally even death. Since the Rojava Revolution , Kurds have been given a platform to participate in media and disperse Kurdish viewpoints to all. In recent years, women especially have become essential to

7480-422: The Self Protection units (YXG). Existing underground Kurdish political parties, the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the Kurdish National Council (KNC), joined to form the Kurdish Supreme Committee (KSC) and established the People's Protection Units (YPG) militia to defend Kurdish-inhabited areas in northern Syria, i.e. Syrian Kurdistan and the Kurdish enclave of Sheikh Maqsood in Aleppo . Originally

7616-421: The State Security Courts, in an attempt to address criticism from the European Court of Human Rights and a civilian judge assumed the post of the military judge. Shortly before the verdict was read out by Judge Turgut Okyay , when asked about his final remarks, he again offered to play a role in the peace finding process. Öcalan was charged with treason and separatism and sentenced to death on 29 June 1999. He

7752-415: The Syrian Arab Army, the YPG, which frequently avoided combat with government forces, had to make do with scraps. The YPG was able to acquire several vehicle types, including the BTR-60 and BRDM-2 , that had been abandoned in government bases by their previous owners. With no other option, even these abandoned vehicles would be repaired and repurposed by the YPG. Even when the engine couldn't be repaired,

7888-502: The Turkish government that led to a temporary Kurdish–Turkish peace process in 2013. From prison, Öcalan has published several books. Jineology , also known as the science of women, is a form of feminism advocated by Öcalan and subsequently a fundamental tenet of the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK). Öcalan's philosophy of democratic confederalism is applied in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), an autonomous polity formed in Syria in 2012. Öcalan

8024-583: The Women's Council for Social Justice have been held. Other projects and activities are organized by the organization, including the opening of a park in honor of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan's birthday, campaigns and demonstrations against honor killings and the creation of safe houses for victims of domestic violence. Abdullah %C3%96calan Jineology Abdullah Öcalan ( / ˈ oʊ dʒ əl ɑː n / OH -jə-lahn ; Turkish: [œdʒaɫan] ; born 4 April 1949), also known as Apo (short for Abdullah in Turkish ; Kurdish for "uncle"),

8160-423: The YPG and the FSA in Kobanî Canton in March and fighting its way to the gates of the city of Kobanî in September. The actual siege of Kobanî approximately coincided with an escalation in the American-led intervention in Syria . This intervention had started with aiding the FSA against the government, but when the FSA was getting defeated by IS in eastern Syria, it escalated to bombing IS on Syrian territory. With

8296-443: The YPG began to form units called regiments in translation, though they are smaller than comparable units in standard militaries: According to a report in IHS Jane's regarding the YPG, Relying on speed, stealth, and surprise, it is the archetypal guerrilla army, able to deploy quickly to front lines and concentrate its forces before quickly redirecting the axis of its attack to outflank and ambush its enemy. The key to its success

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8432-418: The YPG began to receive air and ground support from the United States and other Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve militaries. Since then, the YPG has primarily fought against IS, as well as on occasion fighting other Syrian rebel groups and the Turkish Armed Forces . In late 2015, the YPG became part of the SDF, an umbrella group intended to better incorporate Arabs and minorities into

8568-438: The YPG conquered the surrounding government-controlled areas: al-Darbasiyah (Kurdish: Dirbêsî), Tel Tamer and al-Malikiyah (Kurdish: Dêrika Hemko). The subsequent Battle of Ras al-Ayn started in earnest when on 19 November 2012, the al-Nusra Front and a second al-Qaeda affiliate, Ghuraba al-Sham , attacked Kurdish positions in the town. The battle ended with a YPG victory in July 2013. While many rebel groups clashed with

8704-482: The YPG to unite the Syrian Kurds under its banner and caused it to become the de facto army of the Syrian Kurds. In October 2013, YPG fighters took control of al-Yaarubiyah (Til Koçer) following intense clashes with IS. The clashes lasted about three days, with the Til Koçer border gate to Iraq being taken in a major offensive launched on the night of 24 October. PYD leader Salih Muslim told Stêrk TV that this success created an alternative against efforts to hold

8840-413: The YPG, jihadist and Salafist groups did so the most often. The YPG proved to be the only Kurdish militia able to effectively resist the fundamentalists. While the YPG protected the Kurdish communities it was able to extract a price: it prevented the emergence of new, rival militias and forced existing ones to cooperate with or join the YPG forces on its terms. This was how the Islamist attacks enabled

8976-427: The agreement with Turkey, that Finland does not see the YPG as a terrorist organization and that Finland will continue to support the YPG. The Turkish terror classification is not shared by key international bodies in the fight against the Islamic State in which the YPG takes part. Due to this Turkish view, US Army Special Operations Commander General Raymond Thomas suggested the YPG to change their name, after which

9112-409: The agricultural labor (e.g. cultivation and harvesting). All the work is done organically, without synthesized materials and by hand. Profits from the farms are distributed equally among members of the cooperative. In Hassakeh, 15 thousand acres of land have been dedicated to these women's agricultural cooperatives, as well as 4 thousand in Qamishli, and hundreds of women have found jobs there. Prior to

9248-472: The assurance by Pangalos that Öcalan would have safe passage to Europe. Öcalan was determined to travel to Amsterdam and face the accusations of terrorism. Öcalan's capture led thousands of Kurds to hold worldwide protests condemning his capture at Greek and Israeli embassies. Kurds living in Germany were threatened with deportation if they continued to hold demonstrations in support of Öcalan. The warning came after three Kurds were killed and 16 injured during

9384-412: The basis of Kongreya Star. Within the women's communes, women are encouraged to share their opinions and be active members of society, often for the first time in their lives. Women have a high participation rate in the communes, with the average ranging from 50 to 70%, with some reaching 100%. There are five different types of committees present in every commune. One of Kongreya Star's main objectives

9520-519: The belief of Öcalan, that there cannot be a free Kurdistan, or any free society, without the freedom of women. The Star Congress Training Committee was established on January 1, 2016, in Jazira Canton. It has education centers in Hassakah , Qamishli , Afrîn , and Kobani . The committee has the goal of creating sub-committees in every commune as well as training women in these sub-committees to further educate local women. The committee instructs Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen, Chechens, and others. The committee

9656-663: The classes, there is an emphasis on teaching how these systems of dominance came to be and how societies before them, especially during the Neolithic, Mesolithic and Paleolithic eras, were configured. Kongreya Star believes that "societies which existed before patriarchal and hierarchical systems became predominant were centered on women." The movement not only aims to include women in the traditional framework of knowledge, but also to reexamine and reshape these frameworks, questioning their place in society and disassembling powerful ideologies. For example, they often look at alternative ways of understanding language development, such as focusing on

9792-448: The commune level by the People's Protection Units (HPC). These committees consist of both men and women who have received specialized training in defense. They coordinate with local security forces and are responsible for neighborhood security at times of conflict. The education committees under the control of Kongreya Star have the responsibility of overseeing the instruction of the women in

9928-609: The commune's cooperatives, especially those that require using common agricultural lands. The problem solving committees are responsible for mediation of conflicts within the communes, whether they are neighborly or familial. Within the women's communes, the problem solving committees work closely with the House of Women, an institute that can be found in every town, which engages itself in "advanced conflict solution and juridical assistance to women in all types of conflict, including domestic violence." The self defense committees are organized at

10064-527: The communes, as well as the Star Academy. The education committees have three main goals: "furthering the education of women, spreading awareness of women's topics in society at large and transforming existing structures of education." An overarching theme that dominates the education committees is the initiative of "mak[ing] women wise again, in order to shed the attitudes towards men and women that serve patriarchy." Kongreya Star believes that when women are given

10200-485: The conference were: to open a women's media academy, and to "establish an Arabic-language department in the women's news agency... as well as to establish a department for women in the Hawar News Agency ." The overarching goal of the Women's Media Committee is to "define and spread the democratic communal values of women, and to convey their struggle and resistance for their freedom, for their people's freedom, and for

10336-463: The conference. The Congress decided to expand the movement and get more women involved in the organization, but the Ba'ath regime had the women revolutionaries arrested. The Third Congress took place on December 6, 2009, with 81 women attending the event. The Congress was held the slogan "we are not anyone's honor, our honor is our freedom," in order to raise awareness of the "number of women and girls killed in

10472-540: The conference. Understanding the importance of self-administration, the Congress decided to create assemblies and communes, as well as elect a 31-member body that would serve as Rojava's coordination. The Fifth Congress took place in April 2013. 251 women attended the conference which was held under the slogan, "So that women will not remain outside of the organization." The Sixth Congress was held from February 25 to 26, 2016, with

10608-656: The cooperation remained timid. During an interview he gave to the Turkish Milliyet in 1988, he mentioned the goal wasn't to gain independence from Turkey at all costs, but remained firm on the issue of the Kurdish rights, and suggested that negotiations should take place for a federation to be established in Turkey. In 1988, he also met with Jalal Talabani of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in Damascus, with which he signed an agreement and after some differences after

10744-467: The department is to "educate rural women through training programs designed to meet their needs." With the goal of increasing social and familial activity, these women are visited in their homes and given lectures about "subjects like family planning, childcare, protecting women against diseases such as breast cancer, reproductive health, childhood diseases, economic empowerment, equality between men and women, literacy, and underage marriage." This department

10880-460: The districts of Afrin , al-Malikiyah , and al-Bab . The YPG did not initially take an offensive posture in the Syrian Civil War. Aiming mostly to defend Kurdish-majority areas, it avoided engaging Syrian government forces, which still controlled several enclaves in Kurdish territory. The YPG changed this policy when Ras al-Ayn was taken by the al-Qaeda -affiliated al-Nusra Front . At first

11016-512: The foundation of a Kurdish Government in Iraqi Kurdistan in 1992 he later had a better relationship. In the early 1990s, interviews given to both Doğu Perinçek and Hasan Bildirici he mentioned his willingness to achieve a peaceful solution to the conflict. In another given to Oral Çalışlar , he emphasized the difference between independence and separatism. He articulated the view that different nations were able to live in independence within

11152-533: The foundations for a new party which failed due to Syrian intelligence's obstruction. Öcalan left Syria on 9 October 1998 and for the next four months, he toured several European countries advocating for a solution of the Kurdish-Turkish conflict. Öcalan first went to Russia where the Russian parliament voted on 4 November 1998 to grant him asylum. On 6 November 109 Greek parliamentarians invited Öcalan to stay in Greece,

11288-509: The fundamentals of training, prepares objectives, presents facts, and provides an effective intellectual challenge so that trainers can learn how to effectively educate others and achieve better results." The department of courses has two main tasks. The first is to provide training courses for women to take with the goal of supporting women's efforts, developing their academic expertise, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and improving their political and social role in society. The second task of

11424-434: The goal of giving women the ability to "understand their true economic identity, realize that they could play an important part in the society's economy, and give an ecological culture to the economy and society." They also have created cooperative associations, supervised by The Associations' House, to improve equality and provide economic support to local projects. These projects are based on regional needs and are decided by

11560-486: The grounds that Turkey did not negotiate with terrorists. During an International Kurdish Conference in Brussels in March 1994, his initiative for equal rights for Kurds and Turks within Turkey was discussed. It is reported by Gottfried Stein, that at least during the first half of the 1990s, he used to live mainly in a protected neighborhood in Damascus. On 7 May 1996, in the midst of another unilateral cease-fire declared by

11696-523: The guiding principle for Rojava and the Kongreya Star movement. The First Congress took place on January 15, 2005. Due to the secretive nature of the meeting, there were only a few women present. During this congress, the formation of Yekîtiya Star was declared. The women in attendance began reaching out to other activist groups to begin discussing women's oppression across Syria. The Second Congress took place on July 9–10, 2007. 61 women were present for

11832-503: The hulls of BTR-60s were strapped to the backs of trucks and used as improvised AFVs. With little armor and other heavy weaponry, the YPG relied almost entirely on Coalition airpower to destroy Islamic State vehicles and fighting positions. While this meant that Islamic State-operated AFVs were frequently destroyed before they could inflict serious damage on YPG forces, it also meant that most AFVs were completely obliterated by Coalition aircraft, preventing their capture and further use with

11968-465: The ideology of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and is applied in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). Öcalan is a supporter of the liberation of the women, he writes in his Freedom Manifesto for Women that all slavery is based on the housewifization of women. He deems the woman often as being trapped in a situation where she accepts traditional gender roles and

12104-438: The importance of oral history and the effects of women singing and talking to their children from birth. In the courses, participants are encouraged to follow their natural curiosity. They emphasize the principle that freedom and education are both part of collective processes, not individual ones. The classes themselves are discussion-based, and instructors support self-reflection. Another important aim of Kongreya Star education

12240-469: The industry. In April 2014, the Women's Media Committee was formed. The conference, which was attended by journalists and media personnel from across Rojava , decided to create a women's media center in Northern Syria as a headquarters through which women journalists could come together and collaborate. As of 2018, 57% of media institutes in Northern Syria were women. The second Women's Media Conference took place on August 3, 2016. The resolutions decided in

12376-567: The institutions were there to support them and defend their rights. Women's houses are responsible for marital and family disputes. Those that cannot be settled at the women's houses move on to the courts. In November 2011, the first conference of women's houses took place under the slogan "Justice is a sacred social value." At the seminar, there were 135 representatives from women's houses across Jazira, Afrîn, Kobani, Damascus, and Manbij. Hundreds of problem solving committees have been created in all communes, and are responsible for training people on

12512-439: The internet, community values, hygiene," and more. Kongra Star believes that women should hold a prominent place in the economy and the agricultural industry because of their ancient historical and natural roles as caretakers and gatherers, in which women were idolized and sometimes compared to goddesses like Ashtar or Inana . However, over time, masculinity took a stronger role in society and women were exploited economically by

12648-587: The invitation of Nikolas Naxakis , a retired Admiral on 29 January 1999. He spent the night as a guest of the popular Greek author Voula Damianakou in Nea Makri . Following this, Öcalan attempted to travel to The Hague , to pursue a settlement of his legal situation at the International Criminal Court , but the Netherlands would not let his plane land and sent him back to Greece where he landed on

12784-655: The island Corfu in the Ionean Sea . Öcalan then decided to fly to Nairobi at the invitation of Greek diplomats. At that time he was defended by Britta Böhler , a high-profile German attorney who argued that the crimes he was accused of would have to be proven in court and attempted to reach that the International Court in The Hague would assume the case. Öcalan was abducted in Kenya on 15 February 1999, while on his way from

12920-531: The killing of Mahir Çayan . He was charged with distributing the left-wing political magazine Şafak (published by Doğu Perinçek ) and was held for seven months at the Mamak Prison. In November 1973, the Ankara Democratic Association of Higher Education, ( Ankara Demokratik Yüksek Öğrenim Demeği, ADYÖD  [ tr ] ) was founded and shortly after he was elected to join its board. In

13056-546: The latter. "If you break the link between yourself and ideology you will beastialize". With the support of the Syrian Government, he established two training camps for the PKK in Lebanon where the Kurdish guerrillas should receive political and military training. In 1984, the PKK initiated a campaign of armed conflict by attacking government forces in order to create an independent Kurdish state. Öcalan attempted to unite

13192-514: The members. Each association has at least 7 women, and as of 2018, there were 86 associations which employed 7,000 women. The associations work to be inclusive for people of all backgrounds, as well as combat racism and discrimination. Other industrial and commercial cooperatives have been created that focus on the poultry, dairy, and cheese industry, as well as others that focus on sewing and clothes-making. Kongreya Star has created agricultural cooperatives in which women alone are responsible for all

13328-577: The midst of the right- and left-wing conflicts which culminated in the 1980 Turkish coup d'état , Öcalan founded the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). In July 1979 he fled to Syria. Since its foundation, the party focused on ideological training. Marxism-Leninism , the history and estate of Kurdistan had a central role in the party. Öcalan elaborated on the importance of ideology to the extent to where he condemned ideologylessness and equated ideology with religion which according to him had replaced

13464-501: The military high school but failed in the admission exam. In 1966 he began to study at a vocational high school in Ankara ( Turkish : Ankara Tapu-Kadastro Meslek Lisesi ) and attended meetings of anti-communists but also of circles active in left wing politics interested in improving Kurdish rights. He was also a very conservative Muslim in his youth and he admired Necip Fazıl Kısakürek . After graduating in 1969, Öcalan began working at

13600-578: The name of family honor." The main talking points for the Third Congress were how to stop the spread of prostitution and drugs, amongst other oppressions faced by women. The Fourth Congress was held on July 29, 2011, through July 30, 2011, in Afrin . Under the slogan "To increase the pace of the women's liberation struggle and build democratic self-administration," 100 women, representing women's organizations across western Kurdistan and Syria , were present for

13736-408: The name of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) was found. Kurdish activists attempted to unify themselves following the 2004 Qamishli riots . The riots began as clashes between rivaling football fans before taking a political turn, with Arab fans raising pictures of Saddam Hussein while the Kurdish fans reportedly proclaimed "We will sacrifice our lives for Bush". This resulted in clashes between

13872-514: The other PKK militants would turn themselves in as well, his attorney announced. But the eight, as well as another group which surrendered a few weeks later in Istanbul, were imprisoned and the peace initiative was dismissed by the Turkish Government. Öcalan called for the foundation of a "Truth and Justice Commission" by Kurdish institutions in order to investigate war crimes committed by both

14008-584: The overarching theme of "To build a democratic nation in women's color." With over 250 women in attendance, the Congress decided to change its name from Yekîtiya Star to its current name of Kongreya Star (Star Congress). Neighborhoods and towns in Rojava are organized in communes of seven to two hundred people; previously, these communes made up the cantons of Afrîn , Kobanê , and Cizîre. These communes are organized in two networks: those run by Tev-Dem , which are made up of men and women, and women's communes, which are

14144-438: The parties liberation struggle focus to have developed from guerrilla warfare to dialogue and negotiations. After his capture Öcalan called for a halt in PKK attacks, and advocated for a peaceful solution for the Kurdish conflict inside the borders of Turkey. In October 1999, eight PKK militants around the former European PKK spokesman Ali Sapan turned themselves in to Turkey on request of Öcalan. Depending on their treatment,

14280-465: The patriarchy and lost their role in the economy. During and after the Rojava Revolution , it was important for women to regain their role in the economic development of the region. In May 2017, the first Women's Economic Conference took place, with 50 delegates attending. The conference determined the following as their goals: The Women's Economic Committee was created in 2015 "in order to create

14416-475: The permission needed for them. Also his lawyers were unaware of what the charges might be, and received the formal indictment only after excerpts of it were already presented to the press. The trial was accompanied by arrests of scores of Kurdish politicians from the People's Democracy Party (HADEP). In mid-June 1999, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey approved the removal of military judges from

14552-687: The population fled the intense fighting and the airstrikes. The Syrian Democratic Forces was established in Hasakah on 11 October 2015. It has its origins in the YPG-FSA collaboration against IS, which had previously led to the establishment of the Euphrates Volcano joint operations room in 2014. Many of the partners are the same, and even the logo / flag with the Blue Euphrates symbol has common traits with that of Euphrates Volcano. The primary difference

14688-434: The principles of traditional society and the traditional international system, struggle against all forms of "traditional patriarchal violence against women, such as honor crimes," and abolish "masculine authoritarianism" to replace it with "social characteristics that come from women's nature, such as equality, cooperation, partnership, justice, and struggle against authoritarian ideologies." Since 2015, annual conferences for

14824-487: The process. The attack was commended by pro-SDF sources as a courageous attack against a tank using explosives, which killed her in the process. In comparison to the other major factions involved in the Syrian Civil War, the YPG has the least armor. To compensate for the resulting capability gap, the YPG became heavily involved in the production of DIY armoured vehicles, typically based on bulldozers or large trucks. The YPG has traditionally relied on vehicles captured from

14960-484: The regional and local court systems. The Women's Council for Social Justice "oversees all judicial and social institutions, and supervises all of the women's judicial institutions in Rojava." Women hold a 50% stake in the social justice system, and "contribute to the preparation of democratic bills related to women, children and family issues." The goals of the council are to defend both individual and community rights, reject

15096-458: The revolutionary struggles of women worldwide in an effective matter." The committee is also committed to improving the skills of women working in the media field so they may better spread an alternative viewpoint of radical democratic ideals and women's liberation. Under the Women's Media Committee, Kongreya Star publishes Asoya Jinê , a women's magazine covering "a variety of topics including political and social affairs, interviews with women, and

15232-422: The same state if they had equal rights. Then in 1993, upon request of Turkish president Turgut Özal , Öcalan met with Jalal Talabani for negotiations following which Öcalan declared a unilateral cease fire which had a duration from 20 March to 15 April. Later he prolonged it in order to enable negotiations with the Turkish government. Soon after Özal died on 17 April 1993, the initiative was halted by Turkey on

15368-449: The science of women' in Kurdish ) is a type of academic study that focuses on feminist epistemology and the re-learning of science, which is typically written and taught from a male point of view. At the local level, Jineology is taught at "research centers, institutions and academies," through "conducting research, developing ideas and running seminars and training programs." Jineology follows

15504-561: The territory under embargo, referring to the fact that the other border crossings with Iraq led to areas controlled by the Kurdistan Regional Government , while al-Yaarubiyah led to areas controlled by the Iraqi central government. In 2014, the Syriac Military Council , a group of Assyrian units, was formally integrated into the YPG's command structure. The inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War led to open war between

15640-418: The top PKK commanders in charge of the conflict, but that this should not be misinterpreted as a call for the PKK to intensify its armed conflict with Turkey. In January 2013, peace negotiations between the PKK and the Turkish Government were initiated and from between January and March he met several times with politicians of Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) on Imralı Island. On 21 March, Öcalan declared

15776-506: The traditional suppressed female role. Öcalan's brother Osman became a PKK commander until he defected from the PKK with several others to establish the Patriotic and Democratic Party of Kurdistan. His other brother, Mehmet Öcalan, is a member of the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP). Fatma Öcalan is the sister of Abdullah Öcalan and Dilek Öcalan , a former parliamentarian of the HDP ,

15912-461: The two groups who attacked each other with sticks, stones and knives. Government security forces entered the city to quell the riot, firing at the crowds. The riots resulted in around 36 dead, most of them Kurds. They did not, however, emerge as a significant force until the Syrian civil war erupted in 2011. The self-defence committees that were to become the YPG were formed in July and August 2011 as

16048-402: The war effort. In 2016–2017, the SDF's Raqqa campaign led to the liberation of the city of Raqqa , the Islamic State's de facto capital. Several western sources have described the YPG as the "most effective" force in fighting IS in Syria. According to Turkey and Qatar, the YPG is a terrorist organization, closely associated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is listed as

16184-532: The way to democratic dialogue will be also opened". He worked on a solution for the Kurdish–Turkish conflict, which would include a decentralization and democratization of Turkey within the frame of the European Charter of local Self-Government , which was also signed by Turkey, but his 160-page proposal on the subject was confiscated by the Turkish authorities in August 2009. On 31 May 2010, Öcalan said he

16320-402: The women to attend. The health committee within the communes are responsible for coordinating between the regional health services and the communes themselves. The committee provides training on first-aid, natural medicine, and prenatal care. Recently, especially in the women's communes, several women's health care centers have been created. The economy committees are responsible for supporting

16456-550: The world fearing another massacre in Kobanî, American support increased substantially. The US gave intense close air support to the YPG, and in doing so, started military cooperation with one of the factions. While it expected that IS would quickly crush the YPG and the FSA, this alliance was not considered a problem for the US. The YPG won the battle in early 2015. Meanwhile, the situation had been stable in Afrin and Aleppo. The fight between

16592-593: The İmralı island in the Sea of Marmara , and was organized by the Ankara State Security Court. During the trial, he was represented by the Asrın Law Office . His lawyers had difficulty in representing him adequately as they were allowed only two interviews per week of initially a duration of 20 minutes, and later 1 hour, of which several were cancelled due to "bad weather" or because the authorities didn't give

16728-552: Was a colony and preparations ought to be made for a revolution. The group decided to disperse into the different towns in Turkish Kurdistan in order to set up a base of supporters for an armed revolution. At the beginning, this idea had only a few supporters, but following a journey Öcalan made through the cities of Ağrı , Batman , Diyarbakır , Bingöl , Kars and Urfa in 1977, the group counted over 300 adherents and had organised about thirty armed militants. In 1978, in

16864-423: Was abandoning the ongoing dialogue with Turkey, as "this process is no longer meaningful or useful". Öcalan stated that Turkey had ignored his three protocols for negotiation: (a) his terms of health and security, (b) his release, and (c) a peaceful resolution to the Kurdish issue in Turkey. Though the Turkish government had received Öcalan's protocols, they were never released to the public. Öcalan said he would leave

17000-445: Was adopted by the PKK programme following the "Refoundation Congress" in April 2005. Öcalan had his lawyer Ibrahim Bilmez release a statement on 28 September 2006 calling on the PKK to declare a ceasefire and seek peace with Turkey. Öcalan's statement said, "The PKK should not use weapons unless it is attacked with the aim of annihilation," and "it is very important to build a democratic union between Turks and Kurds. With this process,

17136-482: Was also banned from holding public office for life. On the same day, Amnesty International (AI) demanded a re-trial and Human Rights Watch (HRW) questioned the fact that witnesses brought by the defense were not heard in the trial. In 1999 the Turkish Parliament discussed a so-called Repentance Bill which would commute Öcalans death sentence to 20 years imprisonment and allow PKK militants to surrender with

17272-499: Was based in Syria. As the situation deteriorated in Turkey, the Turkish government openly threatened Syria over its support for the PKK. As a result, the Syrian government forced Öcalan to leave the country but still refused turning him over to the Turkish authorities. In October 1998, Öcalan prepared for his departure from Syria and during a meeting in Kobane , he unsuccessfully attempted to lay

17408-517: Was born in Ömerli, a village in Halfeti , Şanlıurfa Province in eastern Turkey. While some sources report his date of birth as 4 April 1949, no official birth records exist. He has claimed not to know exactly when he was born, estimating the year to be 1946 or 1947. He is the oldest of seven children. He attended elementary school in a neighboring village and wanted to join the Turkish army . He applied to

17544-536: Was captured on 26 December. Participating forces included the YPG, the FSA group Army of Revolutionaries , the tribal group al-Sanadid Forces and the Assyrian Syriac Military Council . The coalition had some heavy weapons and was supported by intense US led airstrikes. The capture of the hydroelectric dam also had positive effects on the economy of Rojava . In February, the YPG-led SDF launched

17680-437: Was established on İmralı island to try Öcalan. A delegation of three Dutch lawyers who intended to defend him were not allowed to meet with their client and detained for questioning at the airport on the grounds that they acted as "PKK militants" and not lawyers; they were sent back to the Netherlands . On the seventh day a judge took part in the interrogations, and prepared a transcript of it. The trial began on 31 May 1999 on

17816-460: Was facilitated by the state in order to divide the Dev-Genç (Revolutionary Youth Federation of Turkey), of which Öcalan was a member. President Süleyman Demirel later regretted this decision, since the PKK was to become a much greater threat to the state than Dev-Genç . Öcalan was not able to graduate from Ankara University, as on 7 April 1972 he was arrested after participating in a rally against

17952-612: Was held in solitary confinement as the only prisoner on İmralı island in the Sea of Marmara . Following the commutation of the death sentence to a life sentence in 2002, Öcalan remained imprisoned on İmralı, and was the sole inmate there. Although former prisoners at İmralı were transferred to other prisons, more than 1,000 Turkish military personnel were stationed on the island to guard him. In November 2009, Turkish authorities announced that they were ending his solitary confinement by transferring several other prisoners to İmralı. They said that Öcalan would be allowed to see them for ten hours

18088-581: Was in turmoil and Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos , Interior Minister Alekos Papadopoulos and the Minister of Public Order Philipos Petsalnikos resigned from their posts. Costoulas, the Greek ambassador who protected him, said that his own life was in danger after the operation. According to Nucan Derya, Öcalan's interpreter in Kenya , the Kenyans had warned the Greek ambassador that "something" might happen if he didn't leave four days prior and that they were given

18224-635: Was leading the PKK through communications with his lawyers. He was again banned from receiving visits until 12 January 2019 when his brother was permitted to visit him a second time. His brother said his health was good. The ban on the visitation of his lawyers was lifted in April 2019, and Öcalan saw his lawyers on 2 May 2019. In 2008, the Justice Minister of Turkey, Mehmet Ali Şahin , said that between 2006 and 2007, 949 people were convicted and more than 7,000 people prosecuted for calling Öcalan "esteemed" ( Sayın ). In November 1998, Öcalan elaborated on

18360-610: Was raised speaking Turkish ; according to Amikam Nachmani, lecturer at the Bar-Ilan University in Israel, Öcalan did not know Kurdish when he met him in 1991. Nachmani: " He [Öcalan] told me that he speaks Turkish, gives orders in Turkish, and thinks in Turkish." In 1978 Öcalan married Kesire Yildirim, who he had met at the Ankara University and was of a better household than the regular revolutionaries around Öcalan. They had

18496-427: Was the sole prisoner in İmralı prison in the Sea of Marmara , where he is still held. Öcalan has advocated a political solution to the conflict since the 1993 Kurdistan Workers' Party ceasefire . Öcalan's prison regime has oscillated between long periods of isolation during which he is allowed no contact with the outside world, and periods when he is permitted visits. He was also involved in negotiations with

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