(From CBN.com, 5/29/25). ISTANBUL, Turkey – A glimmer of hope is emerging in Turkey after more than 40 years of battle
PKK militants were once focused on armed struggle for independence for the Kurdish people. Now, they want peace with the Turkish government.
In Diyarbakir, a Turkish city known for its large Kurdish population, there’s a growing sense of hope. After decades of violence, many here believe peace might finally be within reach.
“Turkey has been tired of this war for 40 years, the people of this region are tired of war,” said Tekin Ergin, a resident of Diyarbakir.
The Kurdish Workers’ Party, or PKK, recently announced it will disband and disarm as part of a new peace initiative with Turkey.
“The PKK might not be a familiar organization for a lot of people in the West, but for Turkey, this is the terrorist organization that is fighting the Turkish government,” Mustafa Akyol, with the CATO Institute, told CBN News.
Founded more than 40 years ago, it originally fought for an independent Kurdish state. The PKK is classified as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the European Union.
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