The Japanese Embassy in Turkey has issued a statement on Wednesday clarifying that the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has not been removed from Japan’s list of banned organisations. This announcement contradicts earlier reports suggesting a shift in Japan’s policy towards the PKK.
The controversy began when Japan’s Public Security Intelligence Agency (PSIA) updated its official website in accordance with the United Nations’ terrorism list, which excludes the PKK. The removal led to intense objection from Turkish officials, to which the Japanese Embassy responded with a clarification.
“The Government of Japan has included the PKK in the list of organisations subject to asset freezing due to terrorist activities since 2002 and condemns the terrorist acts carried out by the PKK. There is no change in the government’s policy on this matter,” the embassy said.
Before the statement, Kurdish groups including the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) had previously expressed gratitude for what was perceived as a delisting of the PKK, seeing it as a positive step towards resolving the Kurdish question in Turkey.
