In a groundbreaking ceremony high in the mountains northwest of Sulaymaniyah, fighters from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) marched forward to a symbolic bonfire and cast their weapons into the flames. It was a public display of a momentous shift: after more than 40 years of armed conflict, the PKK is stepping back from its guns in a bid to embrace democratic politics.
The decision follows the group’s announcement in May to disarm and comes just days after Abdullah Ocalan, the PKK’s jailed leader, declared via video link from Imrali Island in the Sea of Marmara that the time had come to replace armed struggle with democratic politics and law. Ocalan’s speech, transmitted to supporters, echoed across Kurdish communities as a call for a new phase in the push for autonomy.
For the past decade, the rugged landscapes of Northern Iraq have served as a refuge for PKK fighters evading Turkish security forces. Early on Friday, dozens of militants arrived at the remote site, each relinquishing rifles and ammunition in a ceremony that blended political symbolism with raw ritual. While exact numbers remain undisclosed, photos and videos shared by on-the-ground observers show a steady stream of fighters discarding arms and embracing a future unshackled from violence.
Analysts view this de-escalation as a potential turning point in the Turkey-Kurdish conflict, which has cost tens of thousands of lives since its eruption in the late 1970s. If fully implemented, this shift could open doors for meaningful dialogue between Kurdish representatives and Turkiye, offering a blueprint for peace, says global policy expert Lena Rodriguez.
Yet questions remain: How will Turkiye’s authorities respond? What safeguards will protect civilians in contested regions? And can decades of mistrust be bridged through politics alone? As digital citizens and world travelers follow this unfolding story, the PKK’s weapons burn as a beacon of hope and a test of whether peace can truly prevail.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
