Twenty-seven years have passed since the so-called International Conspiracy targeting Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan. Öcalan described a meeting held in Paris under the leadership of the United States, involving the Syrian Interim Government, Israel, Turkey, and several Arab countries as a “Second February 15 conspiracy.”

 

Salih Muslim, a member of the Presidential Council of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), spoke to Mezopotamya Agency (MA) about the conspiracy.

 

‘THE KURDISH MOVEMENT WAS SEEN AS AN OBSTACLE’

 

Muslim recalled that prior to the conspiracy, the struggle led by the PKK and the Kurdish people had spread across Kurdistan and the world, increasingly influencing the Middle East. He noted that earlier attacks and assassination attempts had been thwarted but said global and regional powers were seeking a new regional order at the time. Muslim said: “Just as today, there was a search for a new design back then. They saw certain obstacles in front of them, and one of those was the Kurdish Freedom Movement. They wanted to eliminate it, so they targeted its leader first and then sought to dismantle the movement.”

 

NATO GLADIO ALLEGATION

 

According to Muslim, the conspiracy was orchestrated by NATO’s Gladio network with the involvement of several Arab states. “They eventually captured Leader Apo and brought him to İmralı, where a process of torture began. Their aim was to decapitate the movement, but they failed. Leader Apo resisted there,” he said.

 

‘HIS PARADIGM THREATENED THEIR INTERESTS’

 

Muslim argued that powers with strategic interests in the Middle East viewed Öcalan’s proposed paradigm as a barrier to their projects. He said: “They feared both a revolutionary force and a party representing the Kurdish nation. These powers united to preserve their interests and sought to push the Kurds back to their former condition. Yet the freedom movement was different, it reached every household despite Turkey’s efforts to stop it.”

 

PUBLIC REACTION AND RESISTANCE 

 

Muslim emphasized that the Kurdish public initially reacted with deep concern, describing an atmosphere of mourning in Rojava as if “every home had received a coffin.” Over time, however, protests expanded, including hunger strikes in prisons and demonstrations across Europe. “The Kurdish people were largely alone; political actors either remained silent or chose not to act,” he added.

 

Muslim stressed that although the conspiracy did not achieve its objectives, it has never truly ended and added: “As long as the leadership is imprisoned in İmralı, the conspiracy is ongoing. If the leadership remains detained, it means the plot continues.”

 

ROJAVA ATTACKS AS A NEW PHASE 

 

Describing attacks on Rojava as another stage of the conspiracy, Muslim said new geopolitical plans were being implemented after 1999 but had not fully succeeded. “This conspiracy is multi-layered, which is why resistance has been widespread,” he stated. “The leadership blocked this new plot through agreements and warnings, particularly about the risk of ‘new Gazas’ and the need for caution in Rojava.”

 

RESISTANCE STRENGTHENS NEGOTIATIONS

 

Muslim argued that attempts to provoke Kurdish-Arab conflict were prevented through agreements but warned that such tensions could pose risks for Sinjar and southern Kurdistan as well.

 

Muslim said. “Resistance brings gains. Some say Kurds are brave but lose at the negotiating table. Yet many past uprisings never even reached a table. Today’s movement has managed to do so. We must demonstrate broad public resistance to strengthen our position in negotiations.”

 

‘THEY ARE DRAGGING THEIR FEET’

 

Highlighting ongoing demonstrations, especially in Rojava, Muslim said the population sees its future in Öcalan’s paradigm. He attributed recent agreements to both armed resistance and international pressure but warned that implementation has been slow. “They are dragging their feet and seem reluctant to fully apply the agreement. We must remain prepared.”

 

Muslim also pointed to the presence of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), describing it as an umbrella organization made up of at least 17 factions. He concluded: “Groups along our border do not fully follow Damascus and act independently. These are Turkey-backed factions. The United States and other states see this reality but remain silent.”

 

MA / Mehmet Aslan