{"id":97671,"date":"2025-05-13T11:32:19","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T09:32:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/?p=97671"},"modified":"2025-05-17T11:04:20","modified_gmt":"2025-05-17T09:04:20","slug":"pkks-surprise-disbandment-signals-hope-but-skepticism-remains-amid-turkey-kurd-tensions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/pkks-surprise-disbandment-signals-hope-but-skepticism-remains-amid-turkey-kurd-tensions\/","title":{"rendered":"PKK\u2019s Surprise Disbandment Signals Hope \u2014 But Skepticism Remains Amid Turkey-Kurd Tensions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za<\/a>
\n3-minute read
\n13 May 2025 | 11:27 CAT<\/p>\n

\"\"

A demonstrator holds a picture of jailed Kurdish leader Abdullah \u00d6calan during a rally in Diyarbakir, Turkiye, on February 27, 2025 [Sertac Kayar\/Reuters]<\/p><\/div>In what could mark a turning point in Turkey\u2019s decades-long conflict with the Kurdish population, the Kurdistan Workers\u2019 Party (PKK) has announced it is preparing to disband. The decision follows a key party congress in northern Iraq and forms part of a new peace initiative with Ankara.<\/p>\n

The announcement, made via the Ferhat news agency, is being met with cautious optimism. Speaking to Radio Islam International<\/a>, Journalist Fr\u0450dericke Geerdink<\/a> explains that while the news is momentous, it isn\u2019t entirely unexpected. \u201cThe signs were there since October,\u201d she said, referring to unusual interactions between anti-Kurdish politicians and Kurdish lawmakers in the Turkish parliament. \u201cIt shocked people. Normally, they wouldn\u2019t even look at them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The jailed PKK leader Abdullah \u00d6calan reportedly initiated the move. \u201cHe urged the party to not only end the armed struggle but dissolve itself entirely,\u201d Geerdink said. The PKK has declared ceasefires in the past, but this appears to be its most definitive gesture toward a peaceful resolution.<\/p>\n

Still, skepticism lingers. \u201cPeople in Kurdistan are wary,\u201d Geerdink<\/a> noted. \u201cThe government has failed to deliver in the past, even when the PKK showed goodwill. Some believe President Erdogan\u2019s motives are tied to his ambitions to change the constitution and extend his presidency.\u201d<\/p>\n

If successful, the move could benefit all. \u201cEverybody wins\u2014the Kurds, Turkish civilians, and future generations,\u201d she added. The conflict has claimed lives since 1984.<\/p>\n

However, the process is far from over. \u201cThere\u2019s no concrete timeline,\u201d Geerdink<\/a> said. \u201cIt depends on political will. The PKK says, \u2018we\u2019re ready\u2019, but is the government?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00d6calan remains a central figure in the peace process. His supporters compare his release to Nelson Mandela\u2019s in South Africa, symbolising resolution and reconciliation.<\/p>\n

But without real reforms, fears persist. \u201cIf the root Kurdish issue isn\u2019t resolved, disarmed fighters may return to violence. A democratic solution is the only path forward,\u201d Geerdink<\/a> concluded.<\/p>\n

The world watches closely as one of the longest-running armed struggles in modern history approaches a possible end.<\/p>\n

Listen<\/strong> to the full interview on Sabaahul Muslim<\/a><\/em> with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat and Journalist Fr\u0450dericke Geerdink<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za 3-minute read 13 May 2025 | 11:27 CAT In what could mark a turning point in Turkey\u2019s decades-long conflict with the Kurdish population, the Kurdistan Workers\u2019 Party (PKK) has announced it is preparing to disband. The decision follows a key party congress in northern Iraq and forms part of a new […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":97672,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[28,4997],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-97671","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news","category-world"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-13-112908.jpg?fit=641%2C330&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pc0QIf-ppl","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-15 06:04:32","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97671","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=97671"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97671\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/97672"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=97671"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=97671"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=97671"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}