Abdullah Öcalan is a Kurdish political leader and founding member of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which was established in 1978. He has been a prominent figure in the Kurdish struggle for autonomy and rights within Turkey. Öcalan was captured in 1999 and has since been imprisoned on Imrali Island. While in prison, Öcalan has written extensively on issues related to democracy, ecology, and women's rights, influencing the Kurdish movement's ideology. His ideas have led to a shift in the PKK's approach, advocating for peaceful solutions and dialogue with the Turkish government to address Kurdish issues.