Egyptian writer: Steps taken by Freedom Movement reflect commitment, Turkey is required to take swift action

The Kurdistan Freedom Movement confirmed on October 26th that, in accordance with the decisions of the party's 12th conference, it was reorganizing its forces within Turkey's borders in areas that may witness potential escalation or provocations, and was taking precautionary measures in contact zones to avoid any clashes. It added that this step came within the framework of the call for peace and a democratic society, and that a group of Guerrilla fighters had arrived in Qandil.

Commenting on this, the Egyptian writer and political analyst Ibrahim Shaaban told ANHA agency that the Kurdistan Workers' Party's (PKK) decision to withdraw its forces from Turkey ends Ankara's exploitation of any pretext to undermine the party's peace initiatives and represents a new beginning chosen by the party for millions of its followers.

Ibrahim Shaaban made clear that the Turkish reaction to the historic decisions of leader Abdullah Ocalan and the PKK remains slow and disproportionate to these bold steps, calling on President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to take genuine steps towards integrating the Kurdish people and recognizing their identity and full rights, in addition to opening a similar chapter with the PKK that would end four decades of bloodshed and confrontations.

He emphasized that the Kurdistan Workers' Party's (PKK) announcement of the withdrawal of all its armed forces from the Turkish territory to North Iraq represents a truly bold step, reflecting a commitment to the peace process and paves the way for a comprehensive political settlement. He added that this step necessitates a positive response and parallel legal measures from Ankara to support the democratic integration, especially since this move came, according to the party's statement, to preempt the potential risk of clashes and eliminate the possibility of undesirable events.

He called on the Turkish authorities to respond to the PKK's calls in terms of moving forward with the necessary legal procedures to protect the peace process and allow the party members to transfer to the democratic political work, adopting the special amnesty law for the party as a basis, and immediately enacting laws related to the necessary freedoms and democratic integration.

Ibrahim Shaaban concluded that the PKK, under the leadership of Abdullah Ocalan, was not forced to make such historic decisions, but rather made them voluntarily and in accordance with a comprehensive political and peaceful vision for the future and for the Kurdish people. This is something that the Turkish government should appreciate and build upon for the future.

J.J