Will the PKK stay as a terrorist group?

Amir Darwish
Nov 8 · 2 min read

Turkey’s excuse for attacking north-eastern Syria is that the PYD is an offshoot of the PKK, which is a terrorist group. But how likely it is for the PKK to remain as a terrorist group is a good point to explore. With recent events in Syria, the American effort to reach an armistice, President Trump’s telephone conversation with Mazlom Kobani, and his invitation for the latter to come to the White House, things are brightening up for the Kurds in general and Rojava in particular. Today, the Kurdish cause is recognised worldwide, and the PKK can build on such positivity and move towards pacifism, which in turn will push Turkey further to eventually speak to them.

Add to that the fight that the Kurds led against the Islamic State and their role in the latest developments of killing Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, head of the Islamic State. The public opinion in Western democracies is changing about the PKK. and that will only take time to show on a governmental level.

Terrorist groups don’t remain in that category forever, and history is on the side of the PKK. Nelson Mandela was once on a watch list as a terrorist, spent 27 years in prison, and then became the President of South Africa and a great symbol of resistance with statues around the world. The South African leader was the first black president to be elected democratically in South Africa.

Another example is the Sinn Féin party in Northern Ireland. After committing many atrocities and their connection to the IRA (Irish Republican Army) and terrorist attacks, the British government decided to talk to them and eventually reached a compromise. They are one of the largest parties in Northern Ireland.

Even Hamas, who is classed as a terrorist group, was elected democratically and put into power by the people. The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt is another example, although they have a strong connection with terrorist activities, whether we like it or not, they were also elected democratically when President Murcy became head of state in Egypt.

The PKK had shown some signs of change and abandoning its arm conflict with the ceasefires they announced a few times. Although the PKK has changed and has not carried out any terroristic operations in a while (that was since Abdullah Ocalan had advised his followers to stop the armed struggle), further changes will push the international community and Turkey to see such change and declassify the PKK as a terrorist group.

It is vital for Turkey to sit down with the PKK and speak to them, as only talking can start progress.

Amir Darwish

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Amir Darwish is a British Syrian poet and writer of Kurdish origin. Amir gained a BA in History and an MA in International Relations of the Middle East.