05/06 • TÜRKIYE

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group that has fought an armed insurgency since the 1980s and is designated as a terrorist organisation by Türkiye, the U.S., and the EU, announced it would disband and lay down its weapons.

Founded in 1978, the PKK began with the goal of creating an independent Kurdish state. Over time, its focus shifted toward securing cultural and political rights for Kurdish communities in Türkiye’s southeast. Decades of fighting have left over 40,000 people dead and thousands more displaced. Entire regions have grown up under the shadow of violence, mistrust, and marginalisation.

The group’s decision followed a rare public appeal from its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Öcalan, who urged a shift toward peaceful, democratic efforts. While the Turkish government called the move a “historic opportunity,” many Kurdish citizens continue to live in the shadow of historic suppression of their culture and identity.

For families torn apart by the conflict, the news brings cautious hope. Some are longing for the return of children or siblings drawn into the group. Others are calling for trauma healing, community reintegration, and justice for decades of loss. Civil society organisations have already begun advocating for amnesty, counselling, and legal reforms to support a sustainable peace.

This shift may also reshape politics beyond Türkiye’s borders. The PKK has ties to Kurdish militias in Syria and Iraq. These are groups that have fought both ISIS and for Kurdish self-rule. As Türkiye watches closely, analysts warn that lasting peace will depend not just on disarmament, but on how the state treats Kurdish identity going forward.