In a landmark event, Kurdish fighters from the P.K.K. signaled a potential end to their armed struggle against the Turkish government during a disarmament ceremony in northern Iraq on July 11, 2025.
Kurdish Fighters Mark Historic Disarmament Ceremony to Pursue Peace with Turkey
Kurdish Fighters Mark Historic Disarmament Ceremony to Pursue Peace with Turkey
Kurdish P.K.K. insurgents publicly destroy weapons in a significant move towards ending a decades-long conflict with Turkey.
Dozens of Kurdish fighters from Turkey took to the rugged mountains of northeastern Iraq on Friday, participating in a public ceremony to burn their weapons as a demonstration of their commitment to peace. This significant act marked the first tangible sign of disarmament amidst an ongoing peace initiative aimed at resolving a conflict that has claimed over 40,000 lives since its onset in the 1980s.
Visuals from the event showcased P.K.K. guerrillas, dressed in military attire, arriving with rifles and rocket-propelled grenade launchers. They gathered on stage before a large image of Abdullah Ocalan, the group's imprisoned leader, who had recently declared an end to the armed struggle in a rare video appearance.
During the ceremony, the fighters placed their arms into a large container, where the bonfire was ignited to destroy them, symbolizing their transition from violence to political activism. A statement from the P.K.K.-affiliated news outlet asserted that this action was taken "of their own free will," expressing a desire to pursue “freedom, democracy and socialism” through lawful political means.
Turkey's government welcomed the disarmament as a promising step towards ending a violent campaign that has plagued the nation for decades. The P.K.K., designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union, initially aimed for an independent Kurdish state but has faced significant opposition from Ankara.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan praised the burgeoning peace process, viewing the P.K.K.’s disarmament as a pivotal moment for Turkey's future, emphasizing hopes for enhanced security, democracy, and development.
Key figures, including Iraqi and Turkish officials and members of Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party, attended the disarmament ceremony, marking a significant occasion in the continuous effort to foster peace in the region.
Ben Hubbard and Şafak Timur provide in-depth coverage of Turkey and the surrounding geopolitical dynamics for Metaworld.media.
