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.

But there has been little progress on the Turkish side which is working on the legal framework to flesh out the peace moves.

"The door is opening to a new political era and strategy," Ocalan, 76, 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," Ocalan said, his words read by a pro-Kurdish DEM lawmaker under a new photo of the veteran militant, looking thinner.

Since his call, the PKK has formally disbanded, held a highly symbolic arms burning ceremony and withdrawn all militants from Turkish soil -- but Turkey has been slow to respond.

Last week, a cross-party parliamentary commission released recommendations for the legal groundwork, backing plans to reintegrate former Kurdish fighters.

But they didn't mention Ocalan's fate and neither did their report reference "the Kurdish issue", drawing criticism from some MPs.

The legal proposals are likely to be put to parliament after the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which ends in mid-March.

If they become law, it will be the first concrete step taken by Turkey.

- 'The state must respond' -

"True peace cannot be achieved through unilateral sacrifices, the state must also respond in a manner that rises to this will for peace," said DEM co-chair Tuncer Bakirhan at the gathering.

"We have been waiting at the same threshold for a year. Now it's time for concrete, practical steps."

Senior DEM lawmaker Gulistan Kilic Kocyigit told AFP parliament needed "to quickly pass the laws necessary" to lock down the process.

"A special law needs to be passed as soon as possible, particularly regarding the participation of those who have laid down their arms in political and social life," she said.

Bakirhan also called for a clarification of Ocalan's "role and legal status".

Despite repeated calls for an easing of his jail conditions, little has changed for Ocalan although he now has more access to family, lawyers, and several DEM lawmakers.

Advancing peace would be contingent on strengthening Turkey's democracy, Ocalan warned.

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

"Acting according to narrow, short-term political interests rather than seeing the historical nature of the problem and its gravity .. weakens us all."

When Turkey's political echelon first extended an olive branch to Ocalan in October 2024, it came with a reference to the "right to hope" -- shorthand for a possible early release.