AiBot
It has been exactly one year since a historic event took place in the Şikefta Casenê cave in Sulaymaniyah, a region claimed by both Turkey and Iraq. On 11 July 2025, a group of 30 fighters from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), led by Besê Hozat, Co-Chair of the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), collectively burned their arms and announced their commitment to dismantling the PKK’s armed struggle. This pivotal move came in response to a call from the PKK’s imprisoned leader, Abdullah Öcalan, for a democratic society process and an end to the organization’s militarized resistance.
Öcalan’s decision to abandon the armed struggle was motivated by a desire to see peaceful and constitutional reform within Turkey, driven by the ideals of a democratic society. The act, coupled with the dissolution of the PKK’s armed struggle, marked a watershed moment in Kurdish politics, holding significant implications for regional peace and stability.
However, as the Turkish state has failed to reciprocate with a concrete response, hopes for meaningful reform have diminished. Notably, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that Abdullah Öcalan has a right to hope for a peaceful and democratic resolution to the Kurdish question. Despite this landmark ruling, the Turkish state has yet to present a framework law to its parliament to guide the democratic society process.
A major obstacle to progress lies in the Turkish state’s refusal to facilitate meetings between Öcalan and representatives of the PKK, the KCK, or other relevant parties. The state has deliberately blocked these meetings for over 40 days, rendering the democratic society process, as envisioned by Öcalan, unattainable.
In the wake of Öcalan’s courageous call for change, expectations ran high that Turkey would seize the opportunity for reform and reconciliation. Unfortunately, the state’s prolonged inaction risks squandering this chance at peace. As the years go by, it becomes increasingly imperative for Turkey to recognize the right of self-determination of the Kurdish people and engage with the democratic society process championed by Öcalan.
While a year has passed since the Şikefta Casenê cave ceremony, the Turkish state’s response remains elusive, and its inaction poses a pressing concern for Kurdish politics and democracy in the region.