International Viewpoint - online socialist magazine

Dissolution of the PKK and new perspectives

Mireille Court — 2025-06-01T12:41:30Z

On February 2025, from the Turkish island of Imrali where he has been held in solitary confinement since 1999, Abdullah Öcalan, “Apo” (uncle) as he is affectionately known to the Kurds, called for the dissolution of the Partiya Karkerên Kurdistanê (PKK – Kurdistan Workers' Party) and an end to the armed struggle in Turkey. The stunned reaction of some international opinion showed the extent to which the PKK's political evolution had been ignored.

- IVP605 - June 2025 / Kurdistan

Kurdistan/Turkey: A Newroz of hope against a backdrop of coup d'état

Mireille Court — 2025-04-17T07:09:51Z

This year's Newroz festival in Diyarbakir drew huge crowds with one hope: to finally find a political solution to the decades-long conflict in the Kurdish region. A Newroz message from the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers' (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan, was broadcast over the loudspeakers, something that had not happened for several years, as Öcalan has been in total isolation. The portrait of the charismatic PKK president was everywhere, which was not previously allowed. So was the portrait of Selahettin Demirtas, former chair of the HDP party (now DEM). Negotiating a ceasefire is no simple matter.

- IVP603 - April 2025 / Turkey, Kurdistan

Kurds under attack on all fronts

Mireille Court — 2024-04-08T12:47:54Z

In the northern Kurdistan region of Iraq, known as Bashur to the Kurds, close to the border with Turkey, war has been raging for several years now, and has intensified in recent months.

- IV591 - April 2024 / Turkey, Kurdistan

The disappointing aftermath of the Turkish elections

Mireille Court — 2023-05-16T08:43:23Z

"We knew that it wasn't an easy election. We knew that it is would be difficult for the first round but we didn't know that Erdoğan would get so many votes, especially in the earthquake areas.“

- IV580 - May 2023 / Turkey

Kurdish spring defies Erdogan

Mireille Court — 2021-03-28T12:39:24Z

“But the young and joyful crowd from Newroz to Diyarbakir and in all the cities of the region, waving thousands of HDP flags, was there yesterday to remind him that the game is far from being won.”

- IV554 - March 2021 / Turkey, Kurdistan