Abdullah Ocalan: The Complex Legacy of a Kurdish Icon Navigating the Struggle for Rights and Reconciliation

In 1999, Öcalan was captured in Kenya by Turkish intelligence agents, a significant turning point in the Kurdish movement. His arrest was met with widespread protests among Kurds and supporters of the PKK, who viewed him as a martyr for their cause. Following his capture, Öcalan was sentenced to death, a sentence that was later commuted to life imprisonment after Turkey abolished the death penalty. His imprisonment has not only solidified his status as a key political figure but has also sparked ongoing debates about the future of Kurdish rights in Turkey.