New Stage of Political Struggle and Turkey’s Responsibilities for Peacebuilding - Akram Barakat

On the morning of July 11, 2025, to the sound of calls for peace and democratic transformation, the fighters of the Kurdistan Liberation Movement created a majestic scene that will forever be etched in human memory. Before high-level political and academic delegations from Kurdistan, Turkey, Iraq, and the world, they announced the beginning of a new era entitled "Peace and Democratic Society." This was achieved through a symbolic weapons destruction ceremony near the Jasna Cave in the Dokan area of Sulaymaniyah Governorate.

This historic step came in response to the call of Leader Abdullah Ocalan on February 27 and in implementation of the decisions of the 12th Congress of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). It embodied a radical shift in the approach of struggle toward legal and political paths, emphasizing the belief that the power of peace and society transcends the power of arms.

A Meeting Point for Revolution, Nature, and History

Jasna Cave was chosen for the ceremony due to its historical significance. It is not just a natural landmark within the Nabi Agha and Sara mountain ranges, but also a symbol of struggle deeply rooted in the memory of the Kurdish people. Its glory dates back to 1923, when King Sheikh Mahmud the Grandson took refuge there after the British bombardment, making it the political and military center of the Kurdish revolution. The cave also hosted the first revolutionary newspaper, "Banki Haq," printed inside the cave using a primitive printing press, marking the beginning of an era of resistance journalism in the darkest of circumstances.

A scene brimming with energy and emotion

At 11:00 a.m., a group of 30 fighters, both male and female, emerged from Jasna Cave, led by the co-chair of the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), Besi Hozat, armed with a Kalashnikov, alongside prominent leaders such as Behzad Çarjila and Tekuşin Ozan. They marched steadily toward the ceremony platform, where a portrait of Leader Abdullah Ocalan was raised, amidst thunderous applause and chants of "Long live Leader Abdullah Ocalan."

The radiant crowd and the tears that spoke volumes

More than 300 figures participated in the ceremony, including delegations from Sulaymaniyah and Hewler, including the Imrali delegation, the politician and member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Shehnaz Ibrahim Ahmed, the wife of the Iraqi president, the Kurdish politician Ahmed Turk, and Midhat Sinjar. Representatives from the Iraqi and Turkish intelligence services, party representatives, activists, intellectuals, and the Mothers of Peace, whose tears were mixed with pride, also attended the ceremony

Besi Hozat opened the ceremony with a welcoming speech, followed by the movement's statement in Turkish and Kurdish, announcing the collective will to shift to political and legal action, in response to Leader Abdullah Ocalan’s call. She said, "We believe in the power of politics, not weapons, and we are proud to implement this historic principle."

The Symbolic Moment

Then, the destruction ceremony began, with Besi Hozat's hand burning the weapons in a specially prepared pool, amidst the reverence of the attendees, the tears of mothers, and the emotional faces of activists. This heralded a new beginning, bringing hope to women, youth, and people yearning for democracy and freedom in an East consumed by oppression and tyranny.

Responses and positions reflect popular and elite consensus.

The attendees spoke about the well-organized nature of the Kurdish liberation movement and the determination of its fighters. They emphasized that Leader Abdullah Ocalan and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) have fulfilled their duty to the fullest extent, and that the ball is now in the court of the Turkish state, which is expected to take serious and meaningful steps to ensure the success of the new phase of the solution.

The Peace and Democratic Society Group, as this initiative has come to be called, opens doors of hope and legitimate political life for a people who have long struggled. It is a moment of awareness, a moment of love, a moment of liberation from the shackles of war and into the embrace of humanity.

Sh-S

ANHA