Ocalan, Abdullah (1948–)

Leader of the left-wing guerrilla unit known as the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), Abdullah Ocalan was born in 1948 in southeastern Turkey, near the Syrian border. He is generally considered to be the strongest advocate and fighter for Kurdish sovereignty and has been labeled a hero by some Kurds, a terrorist by most international intelligence sources, and a “baby killer” by the Turkish government.

Raised by his peasant family in Omerli, Ocalan had vague political aspirations as a youngster and tried to enter the Turkish military but was refused—a decision he claimed was related to his Kurdish ancestry. Later, Ocalan was accepted into Ankara University and, in the political science department, first began to embrace Marxism and voice left-wing sentiments. He organized student movements and was jailed for distributing leftist brochures. He then dropped out of Ankara University, returned to southeastern Turkey, and began to advocate for a Kurdish state.

In 1977, Ocalan and two comrades wrote a manifesto, “The National Road to the Kurdish Revolution.” This document would become the blueprint for and beginning of the PKK. In 1980, a military coup in Turkey forced Ocalan and some of his cohorts to flee to safe haven in Syria. While in Syria, they began forming and training the ranks that would later be known as the PKK. On August 15, 1984, the PKK began its armed campaign for a Kurdish state with an attack on a progovernment village in southeastern Turkey.

Ocalan, whose surname means “avenger” in Turkish, is usually referred to as “Apo,” Kurdish for “Uncle.” His leadership between 1984 and 1999 resulted in a terribly bloody outcome for the PKK and Turkey. Ocalan is alleged to have ordered the murder of uncountable civilians, the kidnapping of Western tourists, and the murder of many comrades who challenged his beliefs. In the overall war, Turkish officials claim that nearly 40,000 people have died as a result of PKK offensives and government retaliation.

In 1999, Ocalan was apprehended in Kenya and brought back to Turkey, where he was tried and sentenced to death for treason and sedition. The day he was sentenced riots broke out, demonstrations were held in Turkey and throughout the rest of Europe, and Turkish embassies throughout Europe were invaded. These actions were orchestrated by some of the 850,000 Kurds living on the European continent. Ocalan has appealed to overturn the death penalty, with the decision still to be made by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. From his prison cell, however, Ocalan has announced a cease-fire and has ordered all PKK forces to leave Turkey. In February 2000, the PKK officially foreswore its 15-year revolution and agreed to the political program proposed by its imprisoned leader. In 2002, PKK had nearly 10,000 active members and supporters throughout Europe. Many believe that Ocalan's imprisonment and possible execution may end the PKK; however, Kurdish nationalism is almost certain to remain an issue for Turkey and surrounding countries.