Historic Ceremony in Sulaymaniyah: PKK Surrenders Weapons
In a historic event, the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) publicly surrendered and destroyed its weapons today in a ceremony held at the “Kasnê” cave in Iraq’s Sulaymaniyah region. This move came after the group’s decision to end its 41-year armed struggle and transition to political resistance.
According to reports, the weapons surrender ceremony was attended by 250 observers, including representatives from the DEM Party (affiliated with the PKK), members of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), and international monitors. During the event, PKK members set their weapons on fire.
In a statement released by the “Peace and Democratic Society Group” (linked to the PKK), it was declared:
“Today, we voluntarily lay down our arms to shift our struggle to the political and democratic arena. This decision was made in response to the call of our leader, Abdullah Öcalan, and the resolutions of the PKK’s 12th Congress.”
Political Reactions from Turkey
MHP (Nationalist Movement Party):
MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli described the move as “historic,” stating:
“The PKK has kept its promise. We appreciate the role of the DEM Party in this process and hope this step marks the beginning of a new era of peace in Turkey.”
AK Party (Justice and Development Party):
AK Party spokesperson Ömer Çelik welcomed the development but cautioned:
“This is only the first step. The PKK must disband all its armed and illegal structures. The Turkish government will monitor this process with full vigilance.”
Security and Oversight of the Ceremony
Tight security measures were enforced in the Sulaymaniyah region, with PUK-affiliated Peshmerga forces and helicopter patrols deployed to prevent any sabotage attempts. Media were not allowed at the ceremony site, but footage of the weapons being burned was later released.
