Turkey's Kurdish DEM party urges law to support PKK disarmament

ANKARA,— Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) on Tuesday urged the country’s parliament to establish a legal path for disarming the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), potentially laying the groundwork for renewed peace efforts.

The PKK, labeled a “terrorist” group by Ankara, declared a ceasefire in March following a call from its jailed founder Abdullah Ocalan. Imprisoned since 1999, Ocalan appealed to the organization to abandon armed struggle and dissolve.

No official statement has been made by President Tayyip Erdogan’s government regarding new peace talks, though the DEM Party has increased its calls for action. The previous peace process collapsed in 2015, triggering an escalation of violence in Turkish Kurdistan (Bakur), the Kurdish-majority areas such as Cizre and Hakkari.

Speaking in the Grand National Assembly, DEM co-leader Tulay Hatimogullari said that peace is not possible without Ocalan’s engagement. “There must be legislation allowing the PKK to disarm, and conditions for Mr. Ocalan to freely communicate must be established,” she said.

According to party officials, the PKK will vote on its possible disarmament and dissolution during a congress expected to take place in the coming weeks.

Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan (C) poses with pro-Kurdish DEM Party lawmakers Pervin Buldan (R) and Sirri Surya Onder in Ankara, Turkey, April 10, 2025. Turkish Presidency

Earlier this month, President Erdogan held a rare meeting with senior figures from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party at the presidential complex in Ankara — marking his first direct talks with Kurdish representatives in over ten years.

The delegation included prominent DEM lawmakers Pervin Buldan and Sirri Sureyya Onder. Following the closed-door session, party officials characterized the exchange as “very positive and productive,” releasing a statement that conveyed a cautious sense of optimism about future dialogue.

(With files from Reuters | Agencies)