Senior Kurdish politician Ahmet Türk has likened the expected Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s (PKK) decision to end its armed struggle to a “Good Friday” moment for Turkey, calling it a historic step that could lay the foundation for peace after decades of conflict.
Speaking to broadcaster tv100 on 9 May, Türk mentioned the forthcoming outcome of the PKK’s recent congress, in which the group is expected to announce a shift away from armed insurgency. The move follows renewed behind-the-scenes political contacts involving the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, of which Türk is a leading figure.
“In Ireland, when peace was achieved, they called it the Good Friday Agreement,” he said. “Today is also a good Friday for Turkey.”
The PKK said it had held a congress and made “significant” decisions. While full details have not been disclosed, the group reportedly endorsed steps toward formally ending its militant campaign.
Türk described the moment as the result of “initiatives and efforts” to pursue peace through dialogue, and said it confirmed that a democratic Turkey was key to future stability. “A positive outcome has emerged. Peace is no longer an option—it is a necessity,” he stated.
He also highlighted the symbolic weight of the announcement coming on a Friday, echoing the significance of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement that brought an end to the conflict in Northern Ireland.
Türk added that progress would depend not only on the PKK’s decision, but on how the Turkish state and parliament responded. “We also have responsibilities. Parliament must take up the democratic steps that are now urgently needed,” he said. “This is not just about the Kurdish issue—it concerns the democratic future of all Turkey.”
In a notable political gesture, Türk said Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli had called him personally on the day of the PKK’s announcement to express support for the peace process. “Mr Bahçeli took a political risk by making a call for dialogue. That risk played a major role in opening the door,” Türk said.
He described Bahçeli’s actions as “a meaningful contribution to an honourable peace” and praised him for putting Turkey’s long-term future above short-term politics.
The İmralı Delegation, of which Türk is a member, was previously involved in talks between Turkish officials and Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the PKK. Those talks collapsed in 2015, leading to a sharp escalation in violence in the country’s Kurdish-majority southeast.
The PKK’s ceasefire and move toward dissolution, prompted by Abdullah Öcalan’s historic call, have ignited cautious optimism among political leaders and pro-Kurdish advocates, with urgent demands for transformative steps: parliamentary debates to enact democratic reforms, easing restrictions on Öcalan’s imprisonment to enable his leadership in peace talks, structured negotiations to secure Kurdish rights within a new constitutional framework, broader democratic progress for Turkey, and reforms to penal enforcement laws to address the harsh conditions faced by political prisoners, often detained under vague anti-terror provisions.
Türk warned that the moment must not be wasted. “In a democratic republic, I believe all peoples can live in peace,” he said. “If internal peace is achieved, Turkey can also contribute more to stability in the wider Middle East.”
Framing the day as a turning point, he repeated his hope that it would be remembered much like the peace milestone in Northern Ireland. “Let us call it our own Good Friday,” he said.
