The Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK) hosted a conference in Istanbul over the weekend under the theme The Solution Lies in Peace: Towards an Equal and Free Life for All Peoples. The event brought together politicians, academics, lawyers, and experts to discuss the Kurdish question, exploring its historical roots, the current demands of the Kurdish people, and the barriers to a just resolution. Panelists emphasised the need for dialogue and a lasting peace, urging concrete steps towards a democratic solution.
In her opening speech, HDK spokesperson Meral Danış Beştaş emphasised that the Kurdish issue presents a broad challenge to democracy in Turkey. She criticised the state’s security-focused approach, arguing that lasting solutions can only be achieved through peace-oriented policies rather than repression. Beştaş called for solidarity across regions and communities, stressing that a genuine peace process must acknowledge Kurdish rights and be grounded in democratic governance.
Gültan Kışanak, former co-mayor of Diyarbakır (Amed), addressed the conference, highlighting that the Kurdish issue has persisted for decades without a comprehensive resolution. She stressed that it continues to be seen solely as a Kurdish concern rather than a broader democratic issue. Despite initial discussions dating back to 1993, Kışanak noted that a shared understanding of peace has yet to be established.
“We must ask ourselves what we mean by peace, how we should rebuild it,” Kışanak said, calling for a new approach that acknowledges historical injustices and fosters reconciliation. “Turkey has confronted the conflict, but not the Kurdish issue itself,” she added. “For peace to be meaningful, Turkish society must come to terms with the Kurdish issue and recognise the historical denial, assimilation, and destruction inflicted on the Kurds.”
Historian Namık Kemal Dinç traced the historical roots of the issue, particularly the Treaty of Lausanne, which he argued institutionalised the division of the Kurdish regions and laid the foundation for anti-Kurdish policies.
Yüksel Genç, coordinator of the Socio-Political Field Research Centre, focused on the demands of the Kurdish people for democratic autonomy. “Kurdish demands for autonomy are based on the desire for equal recognition and rights, not on radical separatism,” Genç emphasised.
Historian Erdoğan Aydın discussed how dominant ideologies in Turkish society, such as nationalism and Islamism, have blocked the path to peace. “The ideologies that dominate Turkish society have labelled peace and equality movements as threats rather than opportunities for collective progress,” Aydın said.
Dr. Noemi Levy-Aksu, an academic and peace researcher, stressed the crucial role of collective memory in Turkey’s peace process. “Peace is not just about ending the war; it’s about addressing the deeper societal inequalities that fuelled it,” she said. Drawing parallels with Colombia’s peace commissions, she highlighted how successful reconciliation efforts must go beyond resolving the conflict itself to address broader social injustices, including poverty and systemic inequality.
The conference ended with a unified call for a new era of dialogue, where all communities and identities in Turkey can coexist peacefully with mutual respect. Speakers emphasised the urgency of a lasting solution that acknowledges Kurdish rights, embraces democratic autonomy, and dismantles longstanding policies of denial and exclusion.
