News Center- The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) held its 12th Congress in the Medya Defense Zones between May 5 and May 7, 2025, the PKK announced in a written statement on Friday.

 Following the “Call for Peace and Democratic Society” by Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan on February 27, 2025, the PKK declared a ceasefire with Türkiye on March 1, 2025.

“The PKK held its 12th Congress in the Medya Defense Zones between May 5 and May 7,” said the statement released by the PKK. “The congress was held in two places in a parallel manner with the participation of delegates representing all working areas.”

The statement continues as follows:

“The PKK convened its congress over the call of leader Abdullah Öcalan, greeting leader Apo with longing and respect and discussing the perspectives and proposals presented to the congress by leader Abdullah Öcalan. In addition, a brief report prepared by the PKK Central Committee was read and discussed at the congress.

Within this framework, decisions having historic importance, based on the call of leader Apo, were made at the congress.

Held in May, the Month of Martyrs, all the heroic martyrs of the 52‑year struggle were commemorated with respect and gratitude at the 12th Congress of the PKK. The Congress called on our patriotic people and all democratic socialist forces to properly embrace and live in accordance with all the national and democratic values revealed by 52‑year struggle.

The 12th Congress of the PKK also commemorated Martyr Sırrı Süreyya Önder, one of those who contributed most to its (congress) preparation, with respect and gratitude. The Congress called on everyone to work together to achieve the peace and democratic‑society goals of Sırrı Süreyya Önder, a comrade to leader Apo for 12 years.

Extensive and detailed information and documents regarding the outcomes and decisions of the 12th Congress of the PKK will be shared with the public very soon, after the results of the congress from the two different places are combined.

We once again commemorate all our heroic martyrs in the person of our first great martyr, Comrade Haki Karer, with respect and gratitude, and call on our patriotic people and pro-democracy friends to commemorate our heroic martyrs everywhere and to further raise the struggle for the freedom of leader Apo.

Şehit Namirin! (English: Martyrs are immortal)

Bijî Rêber APO! (English: Long Live Leader APO)”