What is the PKK?
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) is a Kurdish militant and political organization operating primarily in Turkey.
The PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization by numerous countries worldwide. To comprehend why, we must journey back to the 1970s when Abdullah Ocalan led a group of students in establishing a Marxist-Leninist region across southeastern Turkey. They dubbed themselves the PKK and aimed to create an expanded Kurdish state spanning neighboring nations. At that time, Turkey was preoccupied with Cold War challenges, including escalating violence between left-wing and right-wing groups that culminated in a military coup in 1980.
A year before this event, Ocalan fled to Syria and later Lebanon where he established the first PKK headquarters in Bekaa Valley with Syrian government backing. In 1984, the PKK launched its armed guerrilla campaign against Turkey by attacking state officials and civilians across the country; villages were burned down, children were kidnapped, suicide bombings occurred and people were killed. By the 1990s, these attacks had spread beyond Turkish borders with coordinated illegal demonstrations occurring throughout Europe which often resulted in violent clashes with police.
During this period, The US State Department released several reports documenting the PKK’s involvement in organized crime and drug trafficking leading to its classification as a terrorist organization officially by US authorities under pressure from both Turkey and Syria who ceased harboring them openly causing their relocation to Kondal mountains on northern Iraq’s border with Turkey where they remain today.
In 1999 Abdullah Ocalan was arrested but his followers lay low for six years while consolidating power within their ranks. The various names used by different countries include PJ aka (Iran), PC DK (Iraq) or PYD (Syria), all engaging in violent activities towards advancing PKK agendas while aiming at establishing authority within their respective territories although currently PYD remains most active through its YPG armed wing.
By 2004 PKK attacks upon Turkish targets had risen again until negotiations began resulting in an agreed bilateral ceasefire announced during peace talks involving jailed leader Ocalan.
Terrorism incidents decreased until disrupted by Besa Hosat, leading to renewed hostilities. Despite efforts towards resolution, human rights violations continue, including ethnic displacements caused by SDF actions. Criticisms from the UN and HRW highlight large-scale abuses committed against local populations. Western support indirectly aids YPG/PKK criminal networks despite being declared a terror group. Conflict zones created by political/military alliances continue to affect millions.
