Talk:Abdullah Öcalan/Archive 2

Latest comment: 9 months ago by Sabci in topic Political Prisoner
Archive 1Archive 2

Spelling of name pt 2

This hasn't been discussed before it seems, but why is this spelt with an "Ö"? Ocalan is a Kurd, and this letter doesn't appear in Kurmanji. Propose that this is moved to "Abdullah Ocalan".Battleofalma (talk) 16:45, 15 March 2018 (UTC)

This is by far how he is known in English media, see WP:COMMONNAME for more info on why this ordering and spelling is used. JesseRafe (talk) 18:18, 15 March 2018 (UTC)
Doesn't seem to be "by far" how he is know in English media. The simple O, "Ocalan" spelling is consistently used by news sources such as:
  • Independent (UK)[21]
  • Independent (Ireland)[24]
  • The Guardian (UK) seem to use both, and the Ö spelling when the story is sourced from Turkish agencies[32][33]
  • Daily Telegraph (UK) again, uses both but seems to be more of the regular O spelling.[34][35][36][37]

As well as it seems to be more common in English language news sources based in, or focused on the Middle East

Thanks Battleofalma (talk) 12:30, 16 March 2018 (UTC)

That's a fair point, however, in anything written by him himself, I've always and only seen it with the diacritic, as seen in most of the text descriptions and cover photos here: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_3_9?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=abdullah+ocalan&sprefix=abdullah+%2Caps%2C294&crid=385PLFGJIEO9&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aabdullah+ocalan. So I always took that as his/the preferred standard. I guess the short answer is that that's how it's written in Turkish, which is surely a more familiar source to most readers. The members of his family and the Britannica article also spell it as such, maybe that's the way the family prefers it, irrespective of changes in Kurdish transliteration changes. JesseRafe (talk) 13:53, 16 March 2018 (UTC)
True, I've got book of his spelt that way. The reason I brought it up is due to it being brought up by Kurmanji speakers I know. Maybe some cross-wiki consultation is needed? Battleofalma (talk) 10:57, 19 March 2018 (UTC)
In terms of cross-wiki consultation, every other page that uses the Latin alphabet keeps the diacritic over the O, including languages that wouldn't usually use the diaeresis at all, i.e. French/Spanish/Italian (e.g. the French tréma is used to distinguish adjacent vowel sounds, so "Noël" has two syllables and is not pronounced monosyllabically like "Nuhl" with the vowel quality heard in "oeuf", it couldn't mean anything natively French in this position in Öcalan). Likewise, Vietnamese which has no shortage of diacritics used in its own and borrowed words also is named exactly as this one. And, least surprisingly, so is the Turkish. My guess would be Öcalan simply uses the Turkish spelling of his name, as does his immediate family. One thing to be wary of in looking for evidence, is to avoid the problem of proving a negative. A lot of style-guides for newspapers have obtuse spelling/diacritic rules, and simply finding an "Ocalan" instead of an "Öcalan", doesn't mean much unless you know whether they also publish "Österreich" as "Osterreich" or "Oesterreich", etc. And the diaeresis being skipped is nothing as it's commonly known to English speakers (despite 99% of them calling it an "umlaut"), but I wouldn't expect to find many English newspapers saying "Åland" instead of "Aland", or ever expect to see "Nguyễn" instead of "Nguyen". Think it's a case that this rendering is his common name, as he seems to use it, and other sources potentially simplify it for their own purposes. JesseRafe (talk) 20:19, 19 March 2018 (UTC)
Sure, I was just responding to your referencing of WP:COMMONNAME, and taking into account how given that the majority of English language sources spell it, it would probably be spelt without the diacritic. I suppose if Öcalan identifies as a Turkish speaker then it makes sense to keep as is. Battleofalma (talk) 10:34, 20 March 2018 (UTC)

Nationality and ethnicity confusing.

The info bar states "Naitonality Kurdish", but when you click on "Kurdish" it links to an ethnicity. "The Kurds (Kurdish: کورد‎, Kurd) or the Kurdish people (Kurdish: گەلی کورد‎, Gelî kurd), are an Iranic ethnic group" And at "Citizen" it says "Turkish". Isn't Nationality and Citizenship the same? Especially if he was born in Turkey and only has 1 citizenship.

It's confusing, I suggest changing it from:

Nationality Kurdish Citizenship Turkey

To:

Nationality Turkish Ethnicity Kurdish

Since Turkish is a nationality and Kurdish an ethnicity, it makes sense.

Another reason is because his (I suppose) sisters(Dilek Öcalan) page mentions:

Nationality Turkish. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Oturner91 (talkcontribs) 23:43, 13 July 2018 (UTC) Oturner91 (talk) 23:45, 13 July 2018 (UTC)

I agree that this is back to front. Nationality is what it says on a person's passport (and other official documentation). It can only be a recognised nation state. He may be a Kurd and a Kurdish nationalist who aspires to one day be issued with a Kurdish passport by an independent Kurdish state but there is, for now, no such nationality of "Kurdish". We have to reflect the situation as it is. This is not to endorse the status quo, just to reflect it. If the situation changes then the article should change to match. --DanielRigal (talk) 11:14, 14 July 2018 (UTC)


I see, I didn't know the ethnicity tag was removed. I guess it's used as ethnicity in this case, and why they would use Kurdish there to represent his ethnicity. However his mother was of Turkish ethnic background, as told by both media(abroad and turkish) and by himself personally. So I just added a "/Turkish" together with Kurdish(With sources). Oturner91 (talk) 15:31, 14 July 2018 (UTC)

Impartial sources about civilian issue?

The Council on Foreign Relations site states the below in an article (see article here), can we put this info on wikipedia article as well?

What kinds of attacks has the PKK undertaken?

Mostly attacks on Turkish security forces. But the PKK has also attacked other Turkish sites at home and abroad, as well as Kurdish
civilians who would not cooperate with the group.  The group called off a six-year unilateral ceasefire in 2004 and tensions have 
been rising steadily in Turkey’s southeast region as the PKK began resuming its attacks on security and civilian targets.

The Page in question does not exist anymore. --Lean Anael (talk) 14:15, 16 December 2018 (UTC)

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Deputy Defence minister of Gr talks of Abd. Ocalan death

Cant find anything at mainstream media though. Tweet by Gr defence minister.Cinadon36 12:56, 26 November 2019 (UTC)

Mamak Prison

Hi User:JesseRafe, you reverted (sourced) info about the detention of Mamak Prison again. Why? I wrote "we", because User:Federicoventurini and I, just added info. "We" didn`t remove any info. But the three edits, two from Federicoventurini and one from me, were reverted all together with the edit summary "Removed information without proper reason". After your revert I checked and I saw, that in the 1st edit Federico did, he cited a book of Federico Venturini in an edit in Murray Bookchin. But then you could revert just his edit, not mine, too. For now, Öcalan was just in Mamak prison, we don't know how long, you deleted the info, that he was 7 months in prison. Best, Paradise Chronicle (talk) 20:31, 2 December 2019 (UTC)

Thank you for coming to the talk page and not edit-warring. Not all cites are equivalent. You've been removing sourced info on a variety of pages, some of the sources you replaced them seemed spurious or not indicative of being a reliable source. I don't know who Fredico Venturini is, but if that's another account you are using or collaborating with, that's also frequently viewed with suspicion on here, especially about sensitive topics. As it stands it looks like that account is being used only for spamming his own articles onto Wikipedia, and if you are throwing in your edits with his, then they ought to be removed as well, even if you're not Thomas Jeffrey Miley, which you seem to be suggesting you are given the co-authorship timbre your comment is taking. JesseRafe (talk) 20:43, 2 December 2019 (UTC)
Also, every version of this page says "For 7 months he was held at Mamak Prison." for as far back as I just felt like looking, so perhaps you could clarify what your complaint is? JesseRafe (talk) 20:49, 2 December 2019 (UTC)
Ok then there I was mistaken. In the pre-view of the Edit, it shows me that 7 months in prison was deleted, which was correct, because it was there twice, added the second time by me, sorry for this one. But he was was also arrested for distributing leaflets and this info you deleted as well. So is it ok for you, to add this again? Paradise Chronicle (talk) 20:58, 2 December 2019 (UTC)
Yes, sorry, I think it would be safe to re-add that if you feel it is notable and have a source. Thanks! JesseRafe (talk) 18:42, 4 December 2019 (UTC)

Negotiations between Özal and Öcalan?

The two sources given for the statement, that "Öcalan met Özal and Jalal Talabani for negotiations" don't mention negotiations between Özal an Öcalan. I would replace it with the following phrase "Öcalan met Jalal Talabani for negotiations". Any objections our other sources? Best regards --Mehmet Karabas (talk) 13:59, 9 December 2019 (UTC)

Not a political prisoner

Saying that he's a political prisoner is NPOV as the term can suggest different things. He is in prison for advocating violence (i.e. leading an armed group responsible for mass unlawfull killings). While one may argue he's also charged with political crimes, that doesn't change the aforementioned unlawfull violence. Therefore "prisoner" should be used as the more neutral term. No international organization or supranational organization like the EU labels him as a political prisoner. Randam (talk) 01:44, 21 May 2020 (UTC)

It fits for him as he is banned from holding a public office for life and engaged heavily in the peace process through his books and messages released from prison. And the peace process ended with an isolation of Öcalan so his messages of peace don't get out anymore. Most of his messages I know of were about peace some others were about his health. The EU court ruled he did not receive a fair trial. And the Kurds won many cases where massacres and crimes blamed on the PKK by Turkey were actually done by Turkey.Paradise Chronicle (talk) 08:18, 21 May 2020 (UTC)
Öcalan is seen by many independent sources as a political prisoner.--Hippeus (talk) 11:40, 21 May 2020 (UTC)
Hippeus, can you provide me some examples? Randam (talk) 14:06, 21 May 2020 (UTC)
Randam, he's been referred to as a political prisoner by the Turkish govt itself.[49], but also by Italy's Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata[50]. Battleofalma (talk) 15:49, 25 May 2020 (UTC)
This seems like cherry picking speeches that fit a certain narrative. Because we all now Turkish government (and others) refer to him as a terrorist, but try and get that on this article. The correct way of addressing the political prisoner issue would be adding stuff like "some believe" or "according to" before those words.Randam (talk) 13:38, 26 May 2020 (UTC)
Well, you asked Hippeus for independent sources saying he was a political prisoner, not sources saying he wasn't, so I'm not sure how that's cherry picking.
It doesn't matter that a Turkish govt minister was "off-message" at the time he referred to him as a "political prisoner", because we're not here to correct his mistake. That we have a Turkish govt minister, and a major press agency referring to him as a "political prisoner" as well as somewhat self-evident situation of a founder of a major political party being imprisoned for violent opposition to a government, does feel like enough to define Ocalan's imprisonment as "political". Battleofalma (talk) 16:47, 26 May 2020 (UTC)

Nationality versus ethnicity

Someone else got to review a change before I did but I wanted to make the point that this is similar to the situation described by WP:UKNATIONALS § Present-day UK nationality (examples of use)—in English, for this individual, Kurdish is regarded as a nationality in this case rather than an ethnicity. I have added a citation confirming this. --‿Ꞅtruthious 𝔹andersnatch ͡ |℡| 19:28, 2 November 2020 (UTC)

Good to know, ta. Konli17 (talk) 20:03, 2 November 2020 (UTC)

Can anyone explain to me why we have the last two external links on this article? The websites are of course completley POV, but we link to such sites on some articles. But the presentation of them at the moment looks very POV to me as well. There was no explanation at all, just a warning that the links have some disturbing images. Now it reads "These images are a result of what PKK did.", which also sounds pretty POV and indicates that the links rather belong to Kurdistan Workers Party than to this article. I got reverted with the simple comment "good page.", which is IMHO not a very sufficient explanation, so I'd like to get a more detailed one here. --Conti| 13:39, Apr 1, 2005 (UTC)

The links definitely belong to PKK page. Also, in encyclopedia people expect insight on conflict background more than pictures of mutilated bodies. Pavel Vozenilek 21:08, 1 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Surname

Does his surname literally mean "avenger"? 173.88.246.138 (talk) 01:35, 23 February 2021 (UTC)

Öcalan's anti-Semitism

His German Wikipedia article contains entire sections on Öcalan's anti-Semitism, this should be added. -- 84.163.111.231 (talk) 12:44, 20 February 2021 (UTC)

He does seem to have written (under a pen name) articles that are anti-Semitic, and not only anti-Israel. Will someone add information about this to this article? 173.88.246.138 (talk) 01:36, 23 February 2021 (UTC)
Here is a machine translation of that section from the German-language Wikipedia article:
Anti-Semitism
As early as the late 1980s, Öcalan was spreading the view that the Jews were a basic evil. [58] Öcalan takes the view that Turkish nationalism was not created by Turks, but by English and Jewish capital. The circles of Jewish and English capital were alarmed because he was telling the truth. The Jewish and English capital are trying to get Turkey under their control. The MHP chairman Devlet Bahçeli noticed this and tried to counteract this. However, Jewish capital did not let him. [59] Öcalan agrees in the first volume of his Manifesto of Democratic Civilization, the book“Maskeli Tanrılar Ve Örtük Krallar Çağı” , Hitler's assessment of the Jews. Öcalan wrote literally: “Hitler blamed the Jews for the defeat in the First World War . He had correctly recognized that the superiority of London was related to Jewish ideology and Jewish nationalism. Germany had been betrayed. The Jews were responsible. " [60]
In the so-called conversation notes of March 1, 2008, which were published in the Yeni Özgür Politika , Öcalan took the view that the Jews were behind the murders at Zirve-Verlag . Furthermore, the Jews would give the AKP money so that they could distribute election gifts. [61] On April 4, 2008, he took the view that Jews had developed Turkism in 1926 . You would have coined the phrase “How happy he is who says I'm Turkish” . Ataturk never said anything like that. Even Hitler would have instilled these thoughts into the Jews. It was the Jews who created Hitler. Later the Jews would have Saddamcreated to make their plans come true. [62] The think tank Vocal Europe described Öcalan's views that the Islamic State is an Israeli project [63] and that Israel is striving to establish Israel in Turkish Kurdistan as bizarre. [64] Furthermore, Öcalan took the view that the Southeast Anatolia Project served the goal of Israel to rob the people of land and water and to establish Israel in the region. Nobody could oppose Israel. [65]
173.88.246.138 (talk) 01:37, 23 February 2021 (UTC)
Hi IP, thank you for the input, I'll prepare an NPOV section on it. He sure made some controversial statements on Israel, but it might be better shown in light of his imprisonment with the alleged help of the Israeli secret service (Turkey claims Israeli support in the capture of him) and the PKK/PLO alliance against Israel in 1982.Paradise Chronicle (talk) 09:34, 23 February 2021 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 8 October 2021

Change Diyarbakir* to correct spelling Diyarbakır. Thx 2A02:8108:1140:945:3F:B0A2:155D:F5D1 (talk) 18:46, 8 October 2021 (UTC)

  Done DigitalChutney (talk) 20:32, 8 October 2021 (UTC)

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Semi protected edit request

In the intro, please add that he is Turkish-Kurdish as he still has Turkish citizenship.192.231.40.122 (talk) 16:48, 18 November 2021 (UTC)

  Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 16:52, 18 November 2021 (UTC)

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Stop trying to delete literally every image of someone who’s not the most famous historical figure ever Serok Ayris (talk) 02:41, 17 December 2021 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 16 March 2022

It is necessary to enter the information that the terrorist organization he has established is dealing with drugs. I have enough resources. https://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/pdf-files/WestEurope_NEXUS.pdf http://mars.gmu.edu/bitstream/handle/1920/10137/Turhal_gmu_0883E_11045.pdf https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/tocta/5.Heroin.pdf https://www.unodc.org/documents/lpo-brazil/Topics_drugs/WDR/2012/WDR_2012_web_small.pdf https://www.unodc.org/pdf/document_1997-03-19_1.pdf


Dipnot1 (talk) 00:04, 17 March 2022 (UTC)

While you bring sources, they are a bit old and I saw only one where Öcalan was mentioned. It is this Thesis in which Öcalan actually criticizes the ones who receive money from drug traffickers. But it's only a thesis by a former Turkish police academy alumni, Turkish POV and not prominent enough for inclusion in this article.Paradise Chronicle (talk) 10:32, 17 March 2022 (UTC)
I can add more sources if you want. (Personal attack removed) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahsum_Korkmaz_Academy For example, in this article you prepared, you can write that football and dances were held in the camps. but you do not include sourced information about child soldiers. The terrorist organization founded by Abdullah Öcalan manages the drug trafficking.It is only natural that she would not accept this, as drug-related crimes will cause a global backlash. However, it has been proven and reported that PKK committed this crime in many sources. Dipnot1 (talk) 12:43, 17 March 2022 (UTC)
  Not done for now: please establish a consensus for this alteration before using the {{edit semi-protected}} template. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 10:59, 17 March 2022 (UTC)
I added 5 resources about pkk's drug trafficking. The sources are all highly respected sources. The sources I have sent contain information about pkk making money from drug trafficking. In addition, there are solid sources that the PKK committed war crimes using child soldiers. I will add these too.As such, the article reflects the ideas of a one-sided view and does not appear to be impartial. I would like to add this information along with its sources that the PKK uses child soldiers and makes money from drug trafficking. Dipnot1 (talk) 12:51, 17 March 2022 (UTC)

Philosophical influences

In his works (specifically the “Manifesto for a Democratic Civilization” series) Öcalan frequently talks about him being influenced by Friedrich Nietzsche, Michel Foucault, and Theodor Adorno. He mentions Bookchin and Arendt far less than the aforementioned philosophers. That’s not to say that he wasn’t very much influenced by Bookchin and Arendt, because he was, but to exclude Nietzsche, Foucault, and Adorno in favor of theorists and philosophers he mentions far less simply because not many sources besides himself mention his major influences is ridiculous. 108.56.141.57 (talk) 23:12, 13 May 2022 (UTC)

This was me I forgot to sign in lol Serok Ayris (talk) 23:28, 13 May 2022 (UTC)

Source 19 was the equivalent of illuminati lizard people zionist demon taking over the world conspiracy

Besides the ridiculous back and forth on this page, I wanted to point out that this source, besides being a personal blog, is conspiracy crazy to the nth degree, so I replaced it with the PKK bio.

The former source is claiming a super convoluted theory involving him being a secret Armenian in collusion with CNN, CIA, The Turkish Secret service, and the freemasons. No joke. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.192.101.191 (talk) 00:58, 2 February 2015 (UTC)

Why tf use this photo?

Öcalan is a terrorist and child killer. So a normal photo should be used, not this propaganda photo that makes him look like your happy uncle Joe. He is a criminal and leader of a terrorist organization. This would be like having selfie photo on the Osama Bin Laden page. So I recomend changing the photo. 203.211.104.227 (talk) 03:01, 23 November 2023 (UTC)

Because it's the only Freely usable image of him that we have. If you have alternative PROPERLY licensed images, you are welcome to contribute them. —TheDJ (talkcontribs) 11:13, 23 November 2023 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 26 November 2023

Please add a cleanup flag to this article to bring it to the attention of editors, insofar as the entire article represents a potentially significant NPOV violation.

The change which is requested is to add the following tag to the article's template:

173.66.167.117 (talk) 05:43, 26 November 2023 (UTC)

  Not done for now: would like a more clear rationale with some specificity to it - what exactly is violating NPOV and how, etc Cannolis (talk) 06:11, 26 November 2023 (UTC)

Protests at Foreign Mission in Europe

This line says "Öcalan's capture led thousands of Kurds to hold worldwide protests condemning his capture at Greek and Israeli embassies.

But this article [51]http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/europe/9902/17/ocalan.protest.01/ says Kurdish protesters erupted in coordinated wave of fiery demonstrations at Greek and Kenyan missions across Europe on Tuesday

Can someone correct it. Steveonsi (talk) 15:09, 21 December 2023 (UTC)

Political Prisoner

So, Abdullah Ocalan has been identified as a political criminal. İs he in prison just for he is communist or something. No he is not. So if he is political prisoner ( while he murdered womans childerens, he doesnt deny it, he raid villages, he kill soldiers, he blow up outposts. No doubt in that ) dthen nazis are meant to be considered as political prisoner (while they kill many people. No doubt in that). They both not political prisoners. They are murdered people. Thats why they punished. And Ocalan punished for his murders and crimes. İf we say " Ocalan is a political prisoner" it will be hypocrasy and a example of unobjektive. While everybody knows that kill people we cant say he is a political prisoners Turkish SpongeBob (talk) 01:15, 20 July 2023 (UTC)

He have had this discussion before. As far as I am aware of he was banned from politics for life so he is a political prisoner, not only a political prisoner, but also. Then a politician from the Turkish Government called him a political prisoner themselves see here. Then numerous Nobel laureates also referred to him as a political prisoner see here. Paradise Chronicle (talk) 06:16, 20 July 2023 (UTC)
The Guy literally founded a terrorist group that bombs civilians. Operated his armed attacks on both civilian and Turkish soldiers to idea of seperation of Turkey and founding Kurdistan as the main goal. He literally rejected from almost every country he is trying to seek political asylum. He is clearly a terrorist and even the European governments had to let Turkey arrest and have every right to execute him. Nobody cares if some author called him as political prisoner. That's an opinion not a fact. With your argument we can easily argue that Bin Laden was a political leader and a which is not he is the most famous for, is it? So Abdullah Öcalan should be labeled and called as a terrorist. He acted terrorist actions, founded armed terrorist group, planned suicide bombers and attacks on civilians, etc. Wow such a political prisoner. sebci (talk) 02:21, 21 February 2024 (UTC)
Well I can find many sources that says He is a terorist. What makes Nobel, a Trusted source. What I am saying is very clear and known to everyone. How can this man be a political criminal when no one denies that Öcalan raided villages, killed people and killed soldiers? He even writes in his own book that he raided villages and killed people. If someone did the same thing in America, they would be executed. TurkeyWhat I am saying is very clear and known to everyone. How can this man be a political criminal when no one denies that Öcalan raided villages, killed people and killed soldiers? He even writes in his own book that he raided villages and killed people. So there is court reports. While anybody doesnt look court reports, why we have to trust Nobel organization. Turkish SpongeBob (talk) 18:35, 20 July 2023 (UTC)
According to some Turks, Abdullah Öcalan was named "Artin Agopyan" and had connections to Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA). 155.137.27.93 (talk) 07:25, 18 October 2023 (UTC)
Do you really pretend that we consider "some Turks" as a reliable source? Otherwise, this is just speculative and might be labelled as WP:FORUM. Please stick to reliable sources, thank you. PedroAcero76 (talk) 11:04, 18 October 2023 (UTC)
That is ok. It is only an accusation. 155.137.27.93 (talk) 13:33, 2 November 2023 (UTC)