The PKK spokesperson announced that fighters from the Kurdish organization will begin surrendering their weapons on Friday, July 11, in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. He added that the PKK’s disarmament must be permanent, with legal guarantees and necessary mechanisms for transitioning to democratic politics.
PKK: Ocalan’s message
This follows a videotaped message on Wednesday morning, July 9, from imprisoned leader of the outlawed PKK, Abdullah Ocalan, who called on pro-Kurdish movement fighters to proceed with official disarmament.
Ocalan stated that the armed struggle against Turkey has ended and demanded a complete shift toward democratic politics.
In the video, dated June and published by the Firat news agency, which is affiliated with the PKK, Ocalan urged Turkey’s parliament to establish a committee to oversee disarmament and manage a broader peace process.
He also said the PKK had ended its separatist agenda, describing the shift as a “historic victory.”
The PKK decided in May to dissolve and end its struggle. It has been designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union. Ocalan has been in prison since 1999 and remains an extremely influential figure for Kurdish fighters and supporters.
