Guerrilla forces symbolically destroy weapons, shift to political struggle following Leader Ocalan's call

A symbolic procedure was initiated by the People's Defense Forces (HPG) in Southern Kurdistan in response to the latest call by Leader Abdullah Ocalan, who urged the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and military forces to engage in politics and move away from armed struggle, as part of the “Call for Peace and Democratic Society.”

The procedure involved a group of fighters from the Kurdish Liberation Movement issuing a public statement and symbolically laying down and destroying their weapons in front of cameras, and in the presence of dozens of politicians, intellectuals, civil society activists, and attendees, marking a symbolic gesture and a goodwill initiative toward a peaceful and political resolution.

The statement read:

“On behalf of the Group for Peace and Democratic Society, formed to accelerate the process of democratic change and transformation, we respectfully greet all of you here today, witnesses to this historic democratic process.

We, the freedom fighters—men and women—who joined the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) at different times and places, took up arms, and fought in various regions to resist the denial and annihilation campaigns targeting Kurdish existence, have come here today based on the call made by our Leader Abdullah Ocalan on June 19, 2025. Our presence also follows his historic call from February 27, 2025, titled 'Call for Peace and Democratic Society,' as well as the decisions and recommendations of the 12th PKK Congress held from May 5 to 7, 2025.

To realize and ensure the success of the 'Peace and Democratic Society' phase, and to express our goodwill and determined commitment to continue the struggle for freedom, democracy, and socialism through democratic politics and legal means, and based on the enactment of laws of democratic integration—we hereby, of our own free will, and in your presence, destroy our weapons.

We firmly hope that this step will bring goodness, peace, and freedom, especially to women and youth, to our people and to all the peoples of Turkey and the Middle East, and ultimately to all of humanity.

We are fully convinced by the statement of Leader Abdullah Ocalan: 'I believe in the power of politics and social peace, not the power of weapons; I call on you to implement this principle in practice.' Therefore, we are proud and honored to be applying this historic principle.

Indeed, we know well that nothing that has happened so far has been easy or achieved without sacrifices. We have paid dearly for everything and gained our achievements through relentless and arduous struggle.

Without a doubt, the struggle ahead will also be challenging and difficult. We recognize this reality. Thus, to achieve new successes and democratic gains based on these foundations, we deeply believe in the thought and philosophy of Leader Abdullah Ocalan. We trust in ourselves, our comrades, and our collective strength.

We understand and feel the truth, necessity, and significance of this historic step we are taking now, at a time when fascist oppression and exploitation are rising across the world, when our region is drowning in blood, and our people are in dire need of a life based on freedom, equality, democracy, and peace.

We hope that everyone, women and youth, workers and laborers, all socialist and democratic forces, all peoples and all of humanity, will recognize and value the historical importance of this step in the path of peace and democracy.

Therefore:

We call on all regional and international powers responsible for the pain and suffering endured by our people to respect our nation's full democratic and legitimate national rights, and to support and assist the peaceful and democratic resolution process.

We appeal especially to women, youth, workers, and laborers, as well as all peoples and democratic, socialist forces, along with intellectuals, writers, academics, legal experts, artists, and politicians, to fully comprehend the meaning of this historic step and to support us and our people.

We also call on them to actively engage in the struggle for 'the physical freedom of Leader Abdullah Ocalan and the democratic political solution to the Kurdish question,' and to strengthen and intensify solidarity and international socialist support.

We urge our people and all political forces to correctly understand the characteristics of this historic stage and to grasp the significance of the 'Peace and Democratic Society' phase launched by Leader Ocalan, by organizing educational circles and successfully implementing organizational and practical tasks to strengthen democratic life.

Injustice, oppression, and exploitation will end!

Freedom and solidarity will prevail!

The Peace and Democratic Society phase will definitely succeed!

July 11, 2025

Group for Peace and Democratic Society”. 

A-H 

ANHA