Why Guerillas chose Jasna Cave for disarmament?

Sulaymaniyah province witnessed practical measures today, in line with the call for peace and a democratic society by leader Abdullah Ocalan, represented by a ceremony in which a group of male and female fighters from the Kurdistan Liberation Movement destroyed their weapons inside Jasna Cave, located within the borders of Dokan district in southern Kurdistan. 

The ceremony took place in the presence of dozens of journalists, intellectuals, and politicians, as well as representatives from numerous political parties, organizations, and civil society groups from Kurdistan, Turkey, and the world, most notably the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party.

 These measures were taken in response to leader Abdullah Ocalan’s call for “Peace and a Democratic Society,” launched on February 27 of this year, and his recent recorded message on June 9.

The actual implementation began with leader Ocalan’s announcement of the “Peace and Democratic Society” initiative, in which he emphasized that “the second century of the Republic cannot achieve unity and lasting continuity except through democracy. Without democracy, there is no way to seek or implement systems, which is impossible. Democratic consensus is the fundamental approach. In this process, I call for disarmament and take historical responsibility for this call.”

 Jasna Cave

Jasna Cave was chosen for this operation due to its historical significance and its status as an important landmark in the history of the Kurdish people. The cave is located in the Surdash area, specifically behind Kani Khan village, at the foot of a mountain within the “Nabi Agha” and “Sara” mountain ranges in Sulaymaniyah province, southern Kurdistan. The cave features a wide, triangular entrance, approximately 40 meters long, 9 meters wide, and 7 meters high, extending into two inner chambers that allow movement and seating, with dark passages requiring lighting for entry. Surrounding the cave is stunning natural scenery, including green valleys and a mountain waterfall over three meters high, making it a popular destination for tourists and travelers, especially in spring and summer.

Sanctuary of Sheikh Mahmoud Hafid Barzanji

The historical importance of the cave dates back to 1923, when King Sheikh Mahmoud Hafid was forced to withdraw from Sulaymaniyah following intense British bombardment of the city during the British Mandate.

He sought refuge in the cave along with the region’s residents, using it as a political and military headquarters and a safe haven to protect the nascent Kurdish revolution. What distinguishes Jasna Cave historically is that it served as a secret base for publishing the newspaper *Bangî Haq* (Call for Truth), which was first issued on March 28, 1923, by Kurdish journalist Ahmad Khweja. The newspaper, printed inside the cave using a primitive press transported on muleback, carried the voice of the revolution and called for resistance against British occupation, marking the beginning of revolutionary Kurdish journalism under the harshest conditions of oppression and pursuit.

Thus, Jasna Cave is not merely a geological witness to the passage of time but a living document that holds within its walls the history of the Kurdish struggle for freedom. It is a rare space where journalism, revolution, and nature converged in a single historical moment. 

a.k

ANHA