Pro-Kurdish DEM Party Hails PKK Disarmament as Dawn of 'New Era' for Democratic Resolution
Turkey's DEM Party hailed the PKK's disarmament as a historic shift toward democratic resolution of the Kurdish issue. While celebrating this turning point, they demanded the release of jailed Kurdish leaders and emphasized that true peace requires political reform and inclusive dialogue.
By Ahora Qadi
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Turkey’s pro-Kurdish DEM party on Friday hailed the PKK’s disarmament ceremony as a “turning point” for resolving the decades-long Kurdish question, marking what it described as a “new era” in the pursuit of a democratic and inclusive Turkey.
In an official statement, DEM declared: “With the PKK’s arms burning ceremony, we are entering a new era for a solution to the Kurdish issue and the construction of a democratic Turkey.” The party characterized the symbolic step as a pivotal moment not only for Turkish politics, but also for the future of the broader Middle East.
Turning the page: from armed struggle to political engagement
The statement referred to the ceremonial destruction of weapons earlier on Friday by a group known as the Group for Peace and Democratic Society. That event marked the first public act of disarmament by Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) following their announcement to end armed struggle.
“We wholeheartedly salute this historic initiative for disarmament and transition to democratic politics,” the DEM party stated, adding: “It’s time to intensify the struggle for democratic politics.”
Calls for release of Demirtash and Yukshekdag
Alongside its support for the peace process, DEM announced that it had formally submitted a request to an Ankara court seeking the release of Selahattin Demirtash, former co-chair of the HDP—now succeeded by DEM—and his former co-chair Figen Yukshekdag.
“We have filed a request with the Ankara court for the release of the former HDP co-chairs... who have been unlawfully held hostage for years,” the party said.
Demirtash, a prominent political figure and vocal advocate of Kurdish rights, has been imprisoned since 2016 and was sentenced in 2023 to 42 years over his alleged involvement in protests dating back nearly a decade. Yukshekdag received a 30-year sentence in 2024 on charges related to terrorist propaganda.
The role of dialogue and Ocalan’s influence
The DEM party has played a central role in facilitating indirect contacts between Turkish authorities and jailed PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan, who called on the group to abandon armed struggle earlier this year.
The party reiterated its stance that political negotiation, democratic reform, and legal recognition of Kurdish rights must form the foundation for sustainable peace in Turkey.
As the Kurdish political movement pivots toward institutional engagement, the DEM party signaled that this moment represents not the end, but a redefinition of the struggle.
“This is a historic turning point,” the statement concluded. “The path forward is clear: peaceful politics, democratic institutions, and a shared future for all peoples of Turkey.”
