Barzani Attends International Mullah al-Jaziri Symposium in Turkey, Voices Full Support for Peace Process
Peregraf - Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) President Masoud Barzani on Saturday participated in the Fourth International Mullah al-Jaziri Symposium in the city of Cizre (Cizir) in North Kurdistan/Southeast Turkey, where he declared strong support for the new peace process in Turkey and praised the legacy of the renowned Kurdish poet Mullah Sheikh Ahmad Jaziri.
The two-day symposium, organized by Şırnak University under the theme “Mullah Jaziri’s Understanding of Ethics,” has brought together 111 academics from 23 universities across Turkey, along with 16 international participants from the Kurdistan Region, Iran, Syria, and Germany. The event has attracted widespread attention from scholars, officials, and the public.
Barzani described his participation as a “happy day” in his life, calling Mullah al-Jaziri “a bright star that will never set.”
“It is one of the happiest days of my life to participate in the fourth symposium on Mullah al-Jaziri, who is a great symbol for us,” he said, noting that “Jaziri’s poems never grow old—the deeper you delve into his work, the closer you feel to him.”
During his remarks, Barzani recited several of Jaziri’s poems to the audience.
Support for Turkey’s Peace Process
Barzani devoted part of his speech to the ongoing peace initiative in Turkey, describing it as “a great change” for the region.
“We were very happy with the start of this process,” he said. “This time, the process has begun in an orderly way because the people, the party, and the parliament are supporting the state.”
He expressed gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the government, and the parliament:
“Opening the door to peace is the best door and the best option. We thank the President of Turkey, the state, the parliament, and the people for taking this step.”
Barzani also congratulated Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the PKK, noting that he has “taken positive steps,” and reaffirmed that the Kurdistan Region will support the process “with all our power” and “will not hesitate to do whatever we can.”
Developments in the PKK–State Dialogue
The peace process gained momentum earlier this year when Öcalan called on his followers to lay down their arms and dissolve the PKK. The group complied by May and has since rebranded itself as the Kurdistan Freedom Movement, taking further steps such as withdrawing fighters from Mount Zap in Duhok province — an area Turkish forces had struggled to secure for years.
Last week, a delegation from the newly formed 51-member Turkish parliamentary commission tasked with overseeing PKK disarmament and shaping a legal framework for negotiations held its first meeting with Öcalan.
A senior official from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party said Thursday that Öcalan should be permitted to communicate directly with the public and with political parties as part of the peace initiative.