PKK Begins Disarmament Process After 40 Years of Conflict

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has begun a disarmament process, marking a significant shift after four decades of armed conflict against the Turkish state. The ceremony, held on Friday in Sulaimaniyah, Iraq’s northern Kurdish region, saw 20 to 30 PKK fighters destroying their weapons rather than surrendering them to any government or authority.

The move follows an announcement by the PKK in May that it would abandon its armed struggle. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the development, calling it a “total ripping off and throwing away of the bloody shackles” on his country’s people.

The disarmament is being closely monitored by members of Turkiye’s Kurdish DEM party, as well as Turkish media. Further phases will take place at designated locations involving coordination between Turkiye, Iraq, and the Kurdish regional government in northern Iraq.

While the ceremony marks a significant moment, experts warn that there is still much work to be done. “There’s a long way to go,” said Al Jazeera reporter Mahmoud Abdelwahed. The PKK also have demands, including the release of their leader Abdullah Ocalan, which they want him to lead the democratic process.

The development has been hailed by pro-Kurdish groups and opposition parties in Turkiye, who see it as a major step forward in ending decades-long conflict. “With the PKK’s arms burning ceremony, we are entering a new era for a solution to the Kurdish issue and the construction of a democratic Turkiye,” said the DEM party.

Civilians in northern Iraq, where the fighting has often spilled over, remain cautiously hopeful. They fear that if the PKK leaves, there will be no more shelling, allowing them to reclaim their land and live in peace. The disarmament process marks a significant shift towards peace after four decades of violence.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/11/pkk-begins-disarmament-process-after-40-years-of-armed-struggle-in-turkiye