Beth Nahrin National Council expresses support for PKK’s decision to end armed struggle

BETH NAHRIN — The Beth Nahrin National Council (Mawtbo Umthoyo D’Bethnahrin, MUB) has issued a statement expressing its strong support for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (Partiya Karkerên Kurdistanê, PKK) following the group’s historic decision to end its armed struggle and dissolve itself. The MUB views this move as a pivotal step toward achieving a lasting, democratic solution in the region amidst ongoing political challenges in the region.

The statement by the MUB drew attention to the deep-rooted political and historical issues affecting Turkey and the wider region, tracing the conflict back to the policies of the Young Turks’ Committee of Union and Progress, which emerged during the decline of the Ottoman Empire. Their nationalist ideology, which blended Turkish nationalism with political Islam, is seen as having fostered division and hostility between ethnic and religious communities, leading to genocidal campaigns against minorities.

The MUB emphasized that the continuous wars in Turkey and neighboring countries have devastated the cultural and social structures of these communities, deprived them of resources, and impeded the progress of democracy. These conditions, the MUB argues, contributed to the emergence of armed resistance as a means of achieving political change.

Referring to the establishment of the PKK on 27 November 1978, the statement noted that the group’s armed struggle was a direct reaction to the repression and denial of Kurdish rights. The PKK’s decision to take up arms, according to the MUB, was a response to policies of genocide and the systematic erasure of Kurdish identity.

The MUB also pointed out that the PKK’s nearly fifty-year-long fight for Kurdish rights has extended beyond the local context, evolving into a major regional and international force. The statement highlighted recent developments, particularly Abdullah Öcalan’s 27 February call for peace and a democratic society, marking a turning point in the Kurdish struggle for recognition and autonomy.

Since his capture in 1999 and subsequent imprisonment on Imralı Island, Öcalan has worked towards building bridges between different ethnic groups and promoting a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue. The MUB viewed Öcalan’s peace initiative as a crucial moment that opened the door to a new phase in the conflict. The PKK’s extraordinary 12th Congress, in which the leadership voted to dissolve the organization and end the armed struggle, was seen as a historic decision that could lead to a peaceful resolution.

The MUB welcomed this shift, calling it a vital step toward long-term peace and stability. The MUB urged the Turkish government to take responsibility by initiating wide-ranging reforms, beginning with constitutional changes that address long-standing grievances and promote democratic principles, justice, and equality for all groups.

In particular, the MUB stressed the importance of recognizing the rights of the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) community, as well as other ethnic and religious groups in Turkey, including Kurds, Arabs, Armenians, Persians, Turks, Circassians, and various religious sects. Achieving peace in Turkey, according to the MUB, requires a commitment to the full equality of all citizens, regardless of their ethnicity or religion.

The MUB also reiterated its dedication to continuing the fight for peaceful coexistence, emphasizing that it will uphold its historical and political responsibilities in the pursuit of a truly democratic Middle East, one marked by security, stability, and prosperity.

In its closing remarks, the MUB reaffirmed its full support for Öcalan’s peace initiative and the resolutions passed at the PKK’s 12th Congress. It also commended the Turkish government’s positive statements and actions in response to the situation. The MUB paid tribute to the sacrifices made by martyrs and activists throughout the region’s struggle for freedom, with special acknowledgment of those who have given their lives in pursuit of peace and justice.