Turkish Government Detains Kurdistan Workers’ Party Protesters — Ongoing Tensions

Turkish police create a barricade to stop a pro-PKK rally organized by the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) in Diyarbakir province, Türkiye. (Photo: DHA Press)

On Oct. 13, Turkish authorities detained 269 individuals suspected to be members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) across Diyarbakır province in Türkiye. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced the detention of the individuals on Tuesday, citing their suspected involvement in a planned rally in Diyarbakir on Oct. 13. This crackdown is consistent with the Turkish government’s strict measures against pro-PKK activities, reflecting the tensions that have existed between the Turkish government and the PKK since its inception in 1978.

Participants in the rally in Diyarbakir advocated for the release of Abdullah Öcalan, the Kurdish leader of the PKK. Despite being imprisoned on İmralı Island in Türkiye's Sea of Marmara since 1999, Öcalan still remains the major figurehead of the PKK. 

Additionally, 47 social media users  are facing legal consequences for posting pro-PKK content and are therefore considered purported members of the PKK. Police identified 13 other social media users, including seven Democratic (DEM) Party lawmakers, who shared images of Öcalan. Displaying PKK symbols or images of Öcalan is banned in Türkiye.

The PKK is considered a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union. In the 1970s, Kurdish nationalism began to intertwine with Marxist-Leninist political ideology, shaping a new wave of Kurdish activists. A group of radical Kurdish students, led by Abdullah Öcalan in Türkiye, established the militant separatist organization now known as the PKK. 

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Öcalan organized raids into Türkiye from his base in Syria. In retaliation, the Turkish government initiated a counter-campaign and pressured Syria to expel him. After being forced to leave Syria, Öcalan was arrested in Kenya and sent to Türkiye. Initially sentenced to death in 1999, his sentence was later changed to life imprisonment as Türkiye pursued EU membership, which required the country to prohibit capital punishment.

 The PKK’s goals fluctuated over the years. The group waged an armed struggle against the Turkish state and currently advocates for the cultural and political rights and self-determination of Kurdish people in Türkiye. The organization adopted a communist ideology, but was primarily focused from the beginning on establishing an independent Kurdish state across southeastern Türkiye, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. The group's violent campaign has claimed over 7,000 lives since 2015, with Kurdish communities and their urban centers suffering significantly from forced recruitment, bombings and the ensuing state response.

After a military coup in 1980, Türkiye effectively banned the use of terms “Kurds” and “Kurdistan” in the country. The Turkish government also outlawed the use of Kurdish language in both public and private life, actively promoting the erasure of Kurdish language and culture. In light of the efforts to suppress Kurdish identity, the actions of insurgent Kurdish groups in Türkiye are increasingly contextualized. 

The rally in Diyarbakir and the recent detainment of participants highlight the ongoing tensions surrounding Kurdish rights and the PKK. Abdullah Öcalan's enduring influence, despite his long imprisonment, points to the deep-rooted feelings behind the Kurdish-Turkish conflict. This situation reflects not only local sentiments but also broader political dynamics in Türkiye, where issues of nationalism and minority rights continue to create civil unrest. The authorities' response to such rallies can further escalate tensions between insurgent groups and the Turkish government.

Recent political developments have sparked conversations about resuming possible reconciliation efforts, particularly after gestures of unity from the Turkish government. However, representatives from the DEM Party have indicated that any genuine reconciliation must involve direct talks with Abdullah Öcalan, the PKK's imprisoned leader. The situation remains complex, as multiple sides pursue their own political interests and challenge power dynamics among two groups of people.

Man walks across an area destroyed in government operations against Kurdish militants of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in southeastern Türkiye. (Photo: AP Photo/Cansu Alkaya)