Following his appeal, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) formally disbanded, ending four decades of violence that claimed some 50,000 lives, and turned to democratic means to advance the Kurdish cause.

"The door is opening to a new political era and strategy," he said in a written statement from Imrali prison island where he has been held in solitary confinement since 1999.

"We aim to close the era of violence-based politics and open a process based on democratic society and the rule of law," he said, urging all segments of Turkish society to engage with the process.

Since his call, the PKK has formally disbanded, held a highly-symbolic arms burning ceremony and withdrawn all militants from Turkish soil.

On the Turkish side, a cross-party parliamentary commission last week published a key report meant to prepare the legal groundwork to advance the process, backing plans to reintegrate former Kurdish fighters.

It is expected to be put before parliament next month, likely after the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

If it passes, it will be the first concrete step taken by Turkey.

Despite repeated calls to ease Ocalan's conditions, the 76-year-old's jail conditions remain the same although he has gained greater access to family, lawyers and a handful of pro-Kurdish DEM MPs facilitating the peace efforts.

Ocalan said his call on February 27, 2025, "aimed to break the mechanism that feeds on bloodshed and conflict" but warned progress would be contingent on the strengthening of Turkey's democracy.

"The transition to democratic integration needs laws of peace," he said.

"Many problems and crises today are caused by the absence of the democratic rule of law.. We need an approach that will allow space for democracy and establish strong legal guarantees for it," he said.

Some MPs involved in drafting the parliamentary report expressed concern the text failed to mention "the Kurdish question".

Others noted the absence of reference to the "right to hope" for Ocalan -- shorthand for a possible early release -- a key concept first raised in October 2024 when Ankara extended an olive branch to him, kicking off the process.