Latest news with #Turkey-PKK
Rudaw Net
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Erdogan receives pro-Kurdish party delegation
Also in Turkey PKK-Ankara peace process entering 'new phase': Ocalan DEM Party meets Ocalan ahead of Erdogan talks, PKK disarmament AKP lawmaker says Turkey-PKK peace process to conclude by end of 2025 AKP accuses CHP leader of threatening democracy A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday received a delegation from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) amid fresh developments in the ongoing peace talks between Ankara and Kurdish rebels. The DEM Party delegation, consisting of the party's lawmakers Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar, were received by Erdogan at the Presidential Complex, marking the second meeting between the Turkish president and the pro-Kurdish party since the nascent peace talks between Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) started. The DEM Party, which is mediating the talks, visited jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan on Sunday, relaying a positive message from him. The PKK announced its dissolution in May, in response to a February call by Ocalan to end the conflict that has claimed around 40,000 lives and pursue a political path to securing Kurdish political and cultural rights. The first batch of PKK fighters, believed to be 20 to 30, are expected to lay down their weapons in Sulaimani in the coming days. This is a developing story…
Rudaw Net
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Turkish soldier death toll from methane exposure in Kurdistan Region rises to eight
Also in Kurdistan Sulaimani town uses cameras, fines to curb littering Five Turkish officers killed due to methane gas exposure in Kurdistan Region Why did PKK pick Sulaimani for first disarmament? Turkey extends flight ban on Sulaimani again A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Three more Turkish soldiers died on Monday after being exposed to methane gas inside a cave during a search operation in the Kurdistan Region's Duhok province, the defense ministry announced, bringing the death toll to eight. Ankara on Sunday said that an initial five Turkish officers were killed by methane gas exposure inside a cave in Duhok province while attempting to recover the body of a Turkish officer 'killed by terrorists in 2022.' 'Three more of our heroic comrades-in-arms who were affected by methane gas were martyred, increasing the number of martyred personnel to eight,' the defense ministry said on Monday. It added that the cave was used by 'members of the separatist terrorist organization,' referring to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which Ankara has engaged in a decades-long conflict with that has claimed over 40,000 lives. In 2022, Ankara launched Operation Claw-Lock, targeting PKK positions in the northern Duhok province along the Turkish border. The stated aim of the operation was to cut off the PKK's access to mainland Turkey. On Sunday, Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), which has led a months-long initiative to resolve the deadly decades-long Turkey-PKK conflict, offered condolences over the deaths of the Turkish soldiers, lamenting that 'the entire society is paying the price for the long-standing conflict and unresolved issues.' Earlier in the day, DEM Party officials held a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. The pro-Kurdish party cited Ocalan as stating he was 'deeply concerned' by the deadly incident. Founded in 1978, the PKK initially sought an independent Kurdistan but later shifted its focus toward achieving broader political and cultural rights for Kurds in Turkey. The group has been labeled a terrorist organization by Ankara and its allies.
Rudaw Net
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
DEM Party meets Ocalan ahead of Erdogan talks, PKK disarmament
Also in Turkey PKK-Ankara peace process entering 'new phase': Ocalan AKP lawmaker says Turkey-PKK peace process to conclude by end of 2025 AKP accuses CHP leader of threatening democracy Poll shows 65 percent support for Turkey-PKK peace A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A delegation from the Turkey-based pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) met with Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), on Sunday, just a day before its scheduled talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The meeting also comes shortly before a group of PKK fighters is expected to formally disarm in the Kurdistan Region's eastern Sulaimani province. In a brief statement, the DEM Party said that its lawmakers Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar, along with Ocalan's lawyer Ozgur Faik Erol, visited the jailed PKK leader. A detailed statement about the meeting will be released soon, the party added. This engagement is part of a broader, months-long initiative led by the DEM Party aimed at resolving the four-decade-long conflict between the PKK and the Turkish state that has claimed more than 40,000 lives - mostly PKK fighters. While some have labeled the ongoing efforts as a peace process, Ankara has framed them as part of its 'free-terror Turkey' campaign. In May, the PKK announced it would dissolve and end its armed struggle in response to a February call by Ocalan, who urged the group to abandon armed resistance and pursue a political path to secure Kurdish rights. Ankara has cautiously welcomed the PKK's move but insists on seeing concrete steps before considering the disarmament process complete. The PKK, in turn, expects democratic reforms from the Turkish government in exchange for ending its insurgency. The DEM Party also confirmed on Sunday it will meet with President Erdogan on Monday at the Presidential Complex in Ankara. This follows a landmark meeting between Erdogan and the party held on April 10 - marking the first such engagement between the Turkish president and a pro-Kurdish party in a decade. That meeting included Buldan and the late Sirri Sureyya Onder, a senior DEM figure. Erdogan noted at the time that the party had requested a follow-up meeting, which was under consideration. The latest meetings come as Rudaw learned last week that the first batch of PKK fighters - ranging between 20 to 30 - is set to disarm at a ceremony in the Raparin administration of Sulaimani province in early July. Well-informed sources familiar with the matter indicated that the location was chosen due to 'security considerations.' A DEM Party delegation is expected to attend the disarmament ceremony. Founded in 1978, the PKK initially aimed to establish an independent Kurdish state. In recent decades, however, the group has shifted its focus toward securing political and cultural rights for Kurds in Turkey. Ankara, along with the United States and the European Union, designates the PKK as a terrorist organization.
Rudaw Net
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
PKK-Ankara peace process entering ‘new phase': Ocalan
Also in Turkey DEM Party meets Ocalan ahead of Erdogan talks, PKK disarmament AKP lawmaker says Turkey-PKK peace process to conclude by end of 2025 AKP accuses CHP leader of threatening democracy Poll shows 65 percent support for Turkey-PKK peace A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey's main pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) described its Sunday meeting with Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), as 'highly productive,' signaling renewed momentum in the ongoing peace efforts between Ankara and the PKK. In a statement, the DEM Party reported that Ocalan was in 'good health and spirits,' quoting him as emphasizing that the peace process is 'entering a new phase.' He underscored that "responsibilities fall on everyone, on all of us, to fulfill the requirements of the [peace] process" as new steps are taken. Earlier in the day, DEM Party officials announced they had held a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with Ocalan at Imrali delegation included senior party figures Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar, as well as Ocalan's lawyer, Ozgur Faik Erol. The meeting is part of a broader, months-long initiative led by the DEM Party to resolve the four-decade-long conflict between the PKK and the Turkish state - a conflict that has claimed more than 40,000, the majority of them PKK fighters. While some have referred to the efforts as a peace process, Ankara continues to frame them as part of its 'Free-Terror Turkey' campaign. In May, the PKK announced plans to dissolve and end its armed campaign in response to a February appeal by Ocalan, who urged the group to lay down its arms and pursue a political path to securing Kurdish rights in Turkey. Ankara has cautiously welcomed the PKK's move but insists on seeing concrete steps before considering the disarmament process complete. The PKK, in turn, expects democratic reforms from the Turkish government in exchange for ending its insurgency. Importantly, the DEM Party's meeting with Ocalan came just one day ahead of a scheduled meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday at the Presidential Complex in Ankara. The meeting will be the second of its kind, following a historic encounter on April 10 - the first between Erdogan and a pro-Kurdish party in over a decade. The PKK leader was quoted on Sunday as describing the upcoming meeting with Erdogan as 'historic,' and emphasized the importance of a commission expected to be formed in the Turkish legislature, which he said could play a key role in promoting peace and reconciliation. He also expressed 'extremely strong' hope in the process's potential to contribute to Turkey's democratization. Sunday's meeting also comes ahead of a planned disarmament ceremony by a group of PKK fighters in the Kurdistan Region's eastern Sulaimani province. Sources informed Rudaw last week that the first group of fighters - estimated to be between 20 and 30 individuals - is expected to formally disarm in early July during a ceremony in Sulaimani's aparin administration. The location was reportedly chosen due to 'security considerations.' A DEM Party delegation is expected to attend. Founded in 1978, the PKK originally sought to establish an independent Kurdish state. In recent decades, however, the group has shifted its focus to advocating for political and cultural rights for Kurds in Turkey. The PKK is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union. Separately, the DEM Party on Sunday issued a statement offering condolences following the deaths of five Turkish soldiers who were exposed to methane gas in the Kurdistan Region, highlighting the ongoing human toll of the conflict. 'The entire society is paying the price for the long-standing conflict and unresolved issues,' the party said, adding that 'the only way to prevent such pain from ever being experienced again is through social peace and a will for resolution,' the statement added, urging a shared future based on justice and peace. The DEM Party statement regarding the meeting with Ocalan cited him as saying he was 'deeply concerned' by the deadly incident. Earlier in the day, the Turkish defense ministry confirmed that five military personnel had died during a search operation in the Kurdistan Region after being exposed to methane gas inside a cave. The operation was part of an ongoing effort to recover the body of Nuri Melih Bozkurt, a Turkish officer killed by militants in 2022. Although the ministry did not specify the exact location of the incident, it noted that the search effort was part of Operation Claw-Lock - a military campaign launched by Turkey in April 2022 targeting PKK positions in the Kurdistan Region's northern Duhok province. ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey's main pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) described its Sunday meeting with Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), as 'highly productive,' signaling renewed momentum in the ongoing peace efforts between Ankara and the PKK. In a statement, the DEM Party reported that Ocalan was in 'good health and spirits,' quoting him as emphasizing that the peace process is 'entering a new phase.' He underscored that "responsibilities fall on everyone, on all of us, to fulfill the requirements of the [peace] process" as new steps are taken. Earlier in the day, DEM Party officials announced they had held a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with Ocalan at Imrali delegation included senior party figures Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar, as well as Ocalan's lawyer, Ozgur Faik Erol. The meeting is part of a broader, months-long initiative led by the DEM Party to resolve the four-decade-long conflict between the PKK and the Turkish state - a conflict that has claimed more than 40,000, the majority of them PKK fighters. While some have referred to the efforts as a peace process, Ankara continues to frame them as part of its 'Free-Terror Turkey' campaign. In May, the PKK announced plans to dissolve and end its armed campaign in response to a February appeal by Ocalan, who urged the group to lay down its arms and pursue a political path to securing Kurdish rights in Turkey. Ankara has cautiously welcomed the PKK's move but insists on seeing concrete steps before considering the disarmament process complete. The PKK, in turn, expects democratic reforms from the Turkish government in exchange for ending its insurgency. Importantly, the DEM Party's meeting with Ocalan came just one day ahead of a scheduled meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday at the Presidential Complex in Ankara. The meeting will be the second of its kind, following a historic encounter on April 10 - the first between Erdogan and a pro-Kurdish party in over a decade. The PKK leader was quoted on Sunday as describing the upcoming meeting with Erdogan as 'historic,' and emphasized the importance of a commission expected to be formed in the Turkish legislature, which he said could play a key role in promoting peace and reconciliation. He also expressed 'extremely strong' hope in the process's potential to contribute to Turkey's democratization. Sunday's meeting also comes ahead of a planned disarmament ceremony by a group of PKK fighters in the Kurdistan Region's eastern Sulaimani province. Sources informed Rudaw last week that the first group of fighters - estimated to be between 20 and 30 individuals - is expected to formally disarm in early July during a ceremony in the Raparin administration. The location was reportedly chosen due to 'security considerations.' A DEM Party delegation is expected to attend. Founded in 1978, the PKK originally sought to establish an independent Kurdish state. In recent decades, however, the group has shifted its focus to advocating for political and cultural rights for Kurds in Turkey. The PKK is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union. Separately, the DEM Party on Sunday issued a statement offering condolences following the deaths of five Turkish soldiers who were exposed to methane gas in the Kurdistan Region, highlighting the ongoing human toll of the conflict. 'The entire society is paying the price for the long-standing conflict and unresolved issues,' the party said, adding that 'the only way to prevent such pain from ever being experienced again is through social peace and a will for resolution,' the statement added, urging a shared future based on justice and peace. Earlier in the day, the Turkish defense ministry confirmed that five military personnel had died during a search operation in the Kurdistan Region after being exposed to methane gas inside a cave. The operation was part of an ongoing effort to recover the body of Nuri Melih Bozkurt, a Turkish officer killed by militants in 2022. Although the ministry did not specify the exact location of the incident, it noted that the search effort was part of Operation Claw-Lock - a military campaign launched by Turkey in April 2022 targeting PKK positions in the Kurdistan Region's northern Duhok province.
Rudaw Net
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
AKP accuses CHP leader of threatening democracy
Also in Turkey AKP lawmaker says Turkey-PKK peace process to conclude by end of 2025 Poll shows 65 percent support for Turkey-PKK peace Turkey detains three opposition mayors Hope for peace grows with new library in Turkey's Hakkari A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on Saturday lashed out at Ozgur Ozel, leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), accusing his remarks of threatening democracy after three CHP mayors were detained on alleged corruption charges. 'His words have no value. Ozgur Ozel thinks elections are run with the same mentality as a CHP congress. Democracy and CHP congress mentality are not the same thing,' AKP spokesperson Omer Celik said, calling Ozel's remarks a 'threat to democracy.' Ozel on Saturday held a high-level CHP leadership meeting and threatened to call on citizens to take to the streets in large-scale demonstrations after three CHP mayors in southern Turkey were detained. 'You fear mass gatherings and demonstrations, so when I call people to the squares, you immediately take harsh security measures and ban them. Demonstrations are democracy. I know what day I will call people to the streets. Do not make me call people to the streets,' Ozel told reporters after the meeting. Turkish authorities on Saturday detained the mayors of the southern cities of Antalya and Adana, as well as the southeastern Kurdish city of Adiyaman (Semsur) – all CHP members – on charges of fixing tenders through bribing mayors and senior municipal executives. The arrests came as part of a wider investigation into alleged graft within CHP-led administrations, according to the state-owned Anadolu Agency. The practice of dismissing elected officials has been ongoing for years. Dozens of mainly Kurdish mayors have been removed from their posts since 2016 and sentenced on terrorism-related charges for alleged ties to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which Ankara has designated a terrorist organization. More recently, the AKP-led government has cracked down on CHP and other opposition mayors, detaining them largely on cases of alleged corruption. On Thursday, a raid sparked by an alleged corruption case at the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality - a key CHP bastion - resulted in the arrests of 60 people, including former Izmir mayor Tunc Soyer and the head of CHP's Izmir branch Senol Aslanoglu. In March, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was sacked from his position on charges of corruption. Considered the main rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the upcoming 2028 elections, his arrest sparked Turkey's worst unrest in a decade, which in turn led to a massive crackdown on protests. The dismissed mayors are replaced with state-appointed trustees.
