In a historic move that could help end a decades-long conflict, dozens of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants are set to lay down their weapons during a ceremony in northern Iraq on Friday. This marks the first concrete step toward fulfilling the PKK’s May decision to disband and abandon armed struggle after a call from its jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan.
The PKK, designated as a terrorist group by Turkey and banned since 1984, has waged an insurgency that has claimed over 40,000 lives, drained economic resources, and fueled deep social and political rifts across Turkey and the broader region.
Around 40 fighters and a commander will participate in the ceremony in Sulaymaniyah, northern Iraq, according to sources familiar with the plan. The collected weapons are expected to be destroyed later in a separate ceremony attended by Turkish and Iraqi intelligence officials, representatives from Iraq’s Kurdistan regional government, and senior figures from Turkey’s pro-Kurdish DEM party, which played a pivotal role in securing the PKK’s decision to disarm.
In a recent video statement, Ocalan urged the Turkish parliament to establish a special commission to guide the disarmament and broader peace process, echoing similar demands from the PKK and DEM. Ankara has reportedly begun work on forming this commission, though DEM leaders stress that legal guarantees and clear mechanisms are essential to ensure a smooth transition of the PKK into peaceful political participation.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has voiced commitment to the process, pledging to prevent any efforts to undermine it and hinting at forthcoming “historic good news.” Meanwhile, AK Party spokesperson Omer Celik warned that the disarmament phase should conclude within months to prevent external provocations from derailing progress.
If successful, the initiative could finally close a violent chapter and open a path toward political reconciliation.
