Middle Eastern elites: PKK represents symbol of willpower and freedom

Middle Eastern political elites have emphasized that the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) represents a school of willpower and struggle for freedom. They also highlighted the importance of achieving stability and development in the region.

 26 November 2024 

An online seminar organized by the Arab Initiative for the Freedom of Leader Abdullah Ocalan, with significant participation from Arab and Kurdish political leaders, shed light on the reality of political parties in the Middle East and North Africa, the major challenges they face, and ways to enhance their role amid rapid political, social, and economic transformations.

The seminar, moderated by Egyptian journalist Ilhami El-Meligy, coordinator of the Arab Initiative for the Freedom of Leader Abdullah Ocalan calan, discussed a range of important topics. These included diagnosing the current situation of political parties, proposing possible solutions to overcome crises, and reviewing historical and contemporary experiences. A common theme was the necessity of restoring the freedom of the international thinker leader Abdullah Ocalan.

The seminar provided a comprehensive analysis of the state of political parties in the Arab world, shedding light on the challenges they face and the reasons for their decline. It also presented forward-looking, actionable visions. Participants agreed that revitalizing the role of political parties requires intellectual and practical efforts to rebuild trust with the public and achieve the desired democracy.

Absence of achievement and vision

At the beginning of the seminar, journalist Ilhami El-Meligy spoke about the Arab Initiative for the Freedom of Leader Abdullah Ocalan, launched in Cairo as a platform for collective struggle for Leader Ocalan’s freedom. He highlighted Leader Ocalan's philosophy, which has had and will continue to have a profound impact on issues of freedom and development in the region.

El-Meligy emphasized that the initiative reflects the deep importance of freedom as a prerequisite for achieving peace and stability. He noted that the seminar coincided with the significant 46th anniversary of the founding of the PKK, a party that represents a school of willpower and struggle for freedom, as well as mounting challenges faced by the region’s peoples. This underscores the need for concerted efforts from national and democratic forces to achieve stability and justice.

The first speaker, Egyptian politician Farid Zahran, president of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party and a former presidential candidate, highlighted the fundamental issue facing political parties: the lack of achievements and clear visions to inspire the public.

Zahran pointed out that repression and authoritarianism by ruling regimes have rendered parties unable to serve as incubators for political dreams, leading to political stagnation. As societies grapple with pressing economic challenges, such as the struggle for basic needs, major issues have disappeared from public agendas.

Zahran argued that political parties’ primary mission should now be to present a comprehensive political project that addresses the challenges of fascism and authoritarianism. This project must build on past experiences and offer practical solutions inspired by historical models, such as European experiences in overcoming political and social crises.

Then, Mohammad Alloush, member of the political bureau of the Palestinian People's Struggle Movement, talked about the importance of international struggle in confronting imperialism and Western hegemony, considering that political parties had historically been an effective tool in facing these challenges.

Alloush praised the experience of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, which drew inspiration from internationalist ideas to strengthen its role in popular struggle. He also criticized the stagnation that had affected many parties, pointing out that the weak connection between the past, present, and future had led to their diminished impact.

He proposed solutions involving the redefinition of the roles of political parties and addressing the intellectual and practical shortcomings that hindered their work. He also emphasized the importance of parties being open to global transformations without abandoning their identity and core objectives.

After that, Ms. Nisreen Doku, co-chair of the Syrian Future Party, who addressed the situation of political parties in Syria. She pointed out that these parties had long suffered from political repression and military dictatorship, which made them unable to achieve their goals or influence the political scene.

She added that the Syrian revolution opened the door for the emergence of new parties, but these soon turned into a military conflict that undermined the possibilities of political work, in addition to the rise of extremist organizations like ISIS and Al-Qaeda. She stressed the necessity of ending the armed conflict and creating a stable political environment that would allow for political freedom and promote pluralism.

Doku spoke about the experience of the Autonomous Administration in NE Syria after liberating the region from ISIS mercenaries, where an administration was established to ensure the safety of citizens and meet their needs. Institutions were then formed to guarantee a dignified life for the people, along with a local governance system balancing military and political aspects. The space for political parties to operate was also opened, and citizens were able to express themselves, compete in managing municipalities and districts.

Dr. Salah Sarwi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Egyptian Communist Party, offered a different perspective on the reasons for the weakness of political parties in the Arab world. He pointed out that the absence of civil society values is one of the key factors that negatively impacted their role. He also discussed the impact of economic nationalization following the July Revolution in Egypt, arguing that it was accompanied by political nationalization, which led to state dominance over political activity.

He further noted that the fall of the Soviet Union and the rise of political Islam in the region caused significant shifts in political and intellectual structures. He emphasized that overcoming these challenges requires focusing on public issues, building broad political alliances that encompass diverse groups, and promoting values of democracy and civil engagement.

Hassan Tork, President of the Egyptian Democratic Unionist Party, discussed the recent Egyptian experience, considering the initiation of national dialogue a positive step toward enhancing the country's political life despite existing challenges, such as the influence of political money and nepotism.

He explained that Egypt has begun to improve its political status after the Brotherhood's rule, which witnessed sharp societal divisions. He emphasized that the greatest challenge lies in building a political culture that encourages democratic engagement and strengthens trust between the state and its citizens, noting that the path to a more open political system requires greater efforts.

Dr. Qasem Soneibar, leader in the Libyan Popular National Movement, focused his remarks on the situation in Libya. He noted that while political parties are numerous, they are ineffective due to issues such as militia rule, political Islam movements, and internal divisions.

In addition to the sharp divisions among factions and militias, he highlighted blatant foreign interventions, which have brought Libyans back to earlier eras when they sought independence from Western powers. He stated that these conditions have rendered Libyan parties incapable of playing their natural role.

The Libyan politician stated that the absence of a stable political structure has contributed to the worsening of crises, making a political solution more complex. He emphasized the importance of uniting ranks within Libya and the necessity for political parties and national movements to contribute to a project that restores the country's unity and ends the ongoing chaos.

After that, Ahmed Bahaa El-Din Shaaban, the Secretary-General of the Egyptian Socialist Party discussed the challenges faced by leftist movements. As a leftist politician, he focused on the crisis facing leftist movements, particularly the challenges confronting the Arab and global left. He noted that the isolation of leftist parties from the masses and the aging leadership have diminished their influence.

He explained that socialist ideology faces global challenges, especially under the pressures of rampant globalization, which has weakened labor and political movements. He suggested a collective struggle against globalization while working to renew political ideas to align with current social and economic transformations.

Gharib Hesso, the co-chair of the Democratic Union Party in Syria, discussed his party's experience. He stated that the party is based on the philosophy of international thinker Abdullah Ocalan and the democratic nation project to organize society and achieve a balance between political and military aspects. He noted that the party has faced accusations of terrorism from Turkey as well as political pressures from Damascus.

Hesso affirmed that despite these challenges, the party's project continues, aiming to establish a democratic, multi-ethnic Syria with a focus on building a pluralistic society that respects everyone's rights. He criticized political parties that adopt popular demands but abandon them upon coming to power, instead turning to control the state's economic resources.

Hesso stressed the importance of dialogue among various Syrian political forces, adding that the Democratic Union Party is open to dialogue, with a strong belief in the goal of a free and democratic Syria. He pointed out that the party has never sought a Kurdish state or any other independent state and criticized the obstacles and challenges he believes are closing the door to a Syrian national dialogue.

On the experience of political parties in Sudan, Ali Saeed Ibrahim, member of the Political Bureau of the Sudanese Communist Party, began by congratulating the Kurdistan Workers' Party on its anniversary. He also expressed solidarity with the Kurdish people's struggle for their rights.

The Sudanese politician highlighted a major issue in Sudan: certain regions are tied to specific leaders or sectarian figures rather than political parties. He noted that political parties have proposed programs that do not align with the interests of the Sudanese people and are now disintegrating and losing their popular bases, having previously been dominated by political Islam.

He stressed the importance of national dialogue as a means to resolve Sudan’s political crises, emphasizing that the challenges facing Sudanese parties require joint efforts from all sides to overcome differences and build a better political future.

The final remarks were delivered by Saleh Muslim, the former co-chair of the Democratic Union Party, who stated that political parties are tools to improve society's conditions. He emphasized that society must organize itself in some way to be capable of making decisions about its own life. He affirmed that the role of political parties is to advocate for the demands of the masses, warning that they lose their function when they deviate from this role.

Muslim also discussed the experience of the Democratic Union Party, saying its goal is to create free individuals who possess their own will. He argued that if society is aware of its responsibilities, it will be capable of determining its destiny. He criticized some political parties for clinging to slogans that date back a century.

Muslim acknowledged that authoritarian regimes inevitably hinder the development of strong political parties, as they use all possible means to protect their interests. However, he expressed confidence that, through the unification of parties, raising public awareness, and renewing ideas, these obstacles can be overcome. He also expressed the Democratic Union Party's readiness to share its experience with other parties willing to learn from it.

Recommendations

The seminar undoubtedly discussed numerous profound aspects of the crisis facing political parties in the Middle East, including social and economic transformations. Globalization and economic changes have posed significant challenges to political parties, impacting their ability to present comprehensive programs that align with these shifts.

External interventions by regional and international powers, for instance in countries like Libya and Syria, have also contributed to deepening the crises of political parties, further diminishing their role. Additionally, the lack of public trust was highlighted, with participants noting that parties have become incapable of regaining the confidence of the masses due to their lack of new visions and actionable projects.

Most participants proposed several solutions, emphasizing the need for a roadmap to activate the role of political parties. They stressed the importance of delivering a political message that balances realism and ambition, focusing on public issues, and fostering collective action by forming broad political alliances encompassing diverse currents to find shared solutions to major challenges.

The participants also highlighted the need for leadership renewal by giving opportunities to a new generation of young leaders to revitalize the parties. They emphasized supporting pluralism by promoting the values of democracy and political diversity as fundamental pillars for any stable political system.