PKK Fighters Burn Weapons in Historic Event

 In a historic ceremony near the city of Slemani in northern Iraq, members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) symbolically laid down their arms on Friday, marking the end of over four decades of armed struggle against Turkey. 

This move, which comes after two months of negotiations and the party’s announcement to end its insurgency, is seen by many as a step toward a political resolution between the Kurds and Turkey. Kurdish citizens in Turkey are hopeful that this shift will pave the way for a peace settlement with Ankara.

Around 30 PKK fighters, including women, participated in the ceremony, which took place near the cave of Jassneh, located about 50 kilometers west of Slemani. 

The fighters, many of whom held leadership roles, burned their weapons as part of the symbolic act. The event is being hailed as a “historic democratic operation” by the PKK, marking a critical transition from armed resistance to political engagement.

Speaking at the ceremony, PKK leaders, including Basi Hozat and Behjat Şarçıl, addressed a crowd of around 300 attendees, including officials, media representatives, and those from various Kurdish political factions. They referred to the destruction of the weapons as a “historic democratic operation,” emphasizing their hope for a future of peace, equality, and democracy.

As the fighters laid down their arms, many were visibly emotional, with some crying and others chanting "Long live Apo!" – a reference to Abdullah Öcalan, the PKK's founder and leader who has been imprisoned in Turkey since 1999.

The event represents a significant shift for the PKK, which has waged an armed insurgency against Turkey since 1984, leading to the deaths of over 40,000 people. Öcalan's call for the cessation of armed resistance earlier this year has become a pivotal moment in Kurdish-Turkish relations.

Turkish officials have welcomed this development, with one senior government figure describing the PKK’s move as "a milestone and a welcome step." The Turkish government views this as an irreversible turning point in the conflict.

The laying down of arms comes at a time when Turkey has intensified its efforts to address the Kurdish issue. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has previously expressed optimism that the PKK's decision could mark the beginning of an era of peace, free from terrorism. He described the move as an important step toward a "terrorism-free" Turkey.

This step is also tied to ongoing indirect negotiations between Abdullah Öcalan and Ankara, facilitated by Turkish President Erdoğan. These talks, which began in October 2022, aim to create a legal and democratic political framework for the Kurdish community in Turkey, following decades of armed conflict.

Erdoğan has suggested that peace efforts with the Kurds will accelerate as the PKK moves forward with its decision to lay down arms, expecting "positive news in the coming days."

Moreover, an Iraqi security source indicated that the disarmament process is expected to conclude by 2026, after which a new Kurdish political party will be formed in Turkey. This would mark a new phase in Turkey's efforts to integrate its Kurdish minority into the broader political landscape, offering hope for a long-term peace agreement.

The PKK’s decision to end its armed struggle comes at a time of increasing regional cooperation between the Kurdish political movements in Turkey and Iraq, with Kurdish leaders like Masoud Barzani showing support for the peace process. It is expected that these developments will provide a much-needed opening for the Kurdish minority, who make up around 20% of Turkey's population, to engage in peaceful dialogue with the Turkish government.

While the outcome of this process remains uncertain, the move to lay down arms is a crucial step toward achieving a lasting peace and a political solution to the Kurdish issue in Turkey.