Kurdish Left Party: Turkey must respond to PKK withdrawal

On February 27, 2025, leader Abdullah Ocalan called on the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to hold its congress and dissolve itself. The party followed leader Ocalan’s call and held its 12th Congress from May 5–7, deciding to dissolve itself in response. On July 11, 30 Freedom fighters symbolically burned their weapons.

On October 26, the Kurdistan Freedom Movement took another historic step by announcing the withdrawal of its forces from Turkey. This decision attracted wide attention at regional and international levels.

In this context, Mohammed Mousa described the PKK’s step as a historic moment and said: “In my view, those criticizing this step are mistaken. The party wants to show that the nature of struggle and work in Kurdistan and the Middle East must change completely.

Guns played an important role for decades, and the party achieved important gains and made great sacrifices. Today, the situation is different, and peaceful struggle in Turkey and northern Kurdistan is needed. As a Left Party, we see this step as a positive transformation.”

If Turkey does not respond, it will lose greatly

Mousa noted that this step will have a very positive impact on the peace process across the region, adding: “Today, both the Kurdish and Turkish peoples are unable to continue the war. But these steps must be reciprocal.

The PKK has made its move—what will the Turkish government do? So far, no practical step has been taken. When party fighters burned their weapons, the Turkish state should have started making legal and constitutional changes, but it did not.

 This latest step puts even greater pressure on Turkey. People will ask: ‘The PKK withdrew—what are you doing?’ The Turkish government will have to respond. If it does not, it will incur major losses. Today, in Turkey, the majority of both Kurdish and Turkish peoples support this path, and if the government responds, it will be obliged to continue taking steps.”

a.k

ANHA