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Thousands of Kurds rally in Turkiye demanding PKK leader release
Thousands of Kurds gathered in Turkiye on June 29, 2026, to call for the release of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan and other prisoners. Öcalan has been held since 1999 after leading an armed insurgency against the Turkish state. The PKK and Öcalan renounced armed struggle last year.
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Al JazeeraAudio version
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Thousands of Kurds rallied across Turkiye on June 29, 2026, calling for the release of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan and other prisoners. The demonstrations focused on Öcalan, who has been imprisoned since 1999 for directing a decades-long armed insurgency against the Turkish state.
Background on the conflict The PKK conducted an armed campaign against Turkish authorities for more than three decades before the group and Öcalan announced last year that they had renounced any further armed struggle. The June 29 rallies occurred one day after the anniversary of Öcalan's capture and formed part of an ongoing campaign by Kurdish groups seeking his freedom and the release of other detainees.
Scale and location of the protests Al Jazeera reported that thousands of participants took part in the demonstrations, which were concentrated in areas with large Kurdish populations. AJEnglish described the events as peaceful gatherings focused on political demands rather than renewed confrontation.
" — Al Jazeera, June 29, 2026 The protests come at a time when the Turkish government has not indicated any change in policy regarding Öcalan's continued imprisonment.
