KURDISTAN FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY CONGRESS

(KADEK)

   The Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy Congress was briefly the new name of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) as of February 2002. The name change represented the PKK's declared intention to become a legal Kurdish party in Turkey seeking to promote democracy and cultural rights for Kurds in Turkey. The imprisoned Abdullah Ocalan was elected KADEK's honorary president, while a Council of Leaders provided daily direction.

   Turkey continued to argue, however, that a mere name change did not justify the legalization of KADEK. Shortly afterwards, the name KADEK was abandoned for the term Kongra-Gel, an organization that still exists as of 2010. However, the main organization has returned to its original name, PKK, and also has created several other affiliated organizations.