PKK Fighters Hand Over Their Weapons

SadaNews - Thirty fighters from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), including women, surrendered their weapons on Friday during a ceremony near the city of Sulaymaniyah in northern Iraq. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan described the move as "an important step toward a Turkey free of terrorism."

The disarmament ceremony, which the party described as a "historic process," represents a turning point in the PKK's transition from armed rebellion to political action, as part of broader efforts to end one of the longest conflicts in the region that has left over 40,000 dead since 1984.

In a statement, a senior Turkish official told Agence France-Presse, speaking on condition of anonymity, "The surrender of PKK fighters in Sulaymaniyah marks a milestone... a tangible and welcome step." He added, "We consider this development an irreversible turning point."

"A Historic Democratic Process"

Correspondent for the French agency near the ceremony site reported: "Thirty fighters, including four leaders, burned their weapons" in front of the Jasna Cave, located 50 kilometers west of Sulaymaniyah.

Media reports indicated that the site holds significant symbolism as it was home to a printing press that produced one of the first Kurdish newspapers.

After descending steps in front of the cave, the male and female fighters stood on a platform before approximately 300 people, with a portrait of the party's founder, Abdullah Öcalan, behind them. Two leaders, Besi Hozat and Behjet Charshl, read a statement in Kurdish and Turkish, describing the destruction of the weapons as a "historic democratic process."

They stated: "We all hope that this step brings goodness, peace, and freedom... at a time when our people are in desperate need of a life marked by freedom, equality, democracy, and peace."

"Long Live Apo"

Later, one after another, the fighters threw their rifles and machine guns into a pit and set them on fire. Many attendees wept at the sight, while others chanted "Long live Apo," which is Öcalan's nickname.

Furthermore, it is expected that these fighters will return to the mountains of Iraq where they are stationed, according to a party official speaking to Agence France-Presse earlier.

The PKK, founded by Öcalan in the late 1970s, had announced on May 12 of last year its dissolution and surrendering of arms, thus ending a conflict that has long strained the Turkish authorities' relations with the Kurdish minority and neighboring states. This came in response to a call made by Öcalan from his prison on İmralı Island off Istanbul on February 27. On March 1, the party, which Ankara and its Western allies classify as a "terrorist" organization, announced a ceasefire.

"Full Commitment" to the Peace Process

Representatives from the PKK in Iraq, Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, and the President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Nechirvan Barzani, attended the ceremony, along with several journalists and deputies from the Turkish People's Equality and Democracy Party that supports the Kurdish cause.

Nechirvan Barzani reiterated on Friday the region's "full commitment" to "continuing all support and assistance for the peace process." Elements from the Turkish intelligence also attended, according to Turkish media reports.

The People's Equality and Democracy Party, the third largest political faction in Turkey, has played a key role as a mediator between Ankara and Öcalan, who has been serving a life sentence since 1999.

Meanwhile, authorities in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan Region announced that they shot down two drones late Thursday near sites for the Peshmerga armed forces. No group claimed responsibility for the attacks, which resulted in no casualties or material damage.

Most PKK fighters have sought refuge in mountainous areas of northern Iraq over the past decade, where Turkey has maintained military bases for 25 years to confront them, regularly conducting ground and aerial operations against them.

A New Political Party in Turkey

The disarmament step also marks a pivotal moment in ongoing indirect negotiations since October between Öcalan and Ankara, sponsored by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

In a video message dated June 19 broadcasted Wednesday, Öcalan stated: "In order to fulfill the promises we committed to, there should be... an established mechanism for disarmament that helps achieve progress in the process, voluntary ending of armed struggle, and moving to the legal and democratic political stage."

The 76-year-old Kurdish leader added: "Regarding disarmament, suitable methods will be determined and practical steps will be taken quickly."

Meanwhile, Erdoğan told journalists on Saturday while returning from an economic summit in Azerbaijan that peace efforts with the Kurds "will accelerate somewhat when the terrorist organization begins to implement its decision to lay down arms."

In another statement before members of his ruling party on Wednesday, he remarked: "We are entering a new phase from which we will receive positive news in the coming days," adding, "We hope that this process will conclude successfully soon, without any incidents or sabotage attempts."

An Iraqi security source revealed that the disarmament process "is expected to conclude in 2026, at which point a new political party will be formed in Turkey."

In this context, Kurds in Turkey hope that the party's abandonment of armed struggle will pave the way for a political settlement with Ankara, opening the door to a new openness towards this minority, which constitutes about 20% of the country's population of 85 million.