PKK Executive Committee Member Karayılan Blames Turkey for Stalled Peace Process, Cites Lack of Legal Guarantees

Peregraf — Murat Karayılan, a member of the PKK Executive Committee, stated that the peace process with Turkey has reached a standstill, accusing Ankara of failing to provide the legal framework necessary to advance negotiations.

In an interview with media outlets affiliated with the group, Karayılan characterized the process as effectively "halted," asserting that no substantial progress has materialized despite previous high-profile announcements.

"Currently, the peace process is suspended and halted," Karayılan said, suggesting that the absence of legislative action following months of dialogue indicates a deliberate obstruction by the Turkish state.

Calls for Legal Framework

Karayılan claimed that Kurdish forces had taken significant steps, including what he termed "irreversible strategic decisions" to cease armed activities, but alleged that the Turkish government has not reciprocated.

He highlighted the necessity for concrete legal measures, including the implementation of ECHR rulings related to political figures such as Selahattin Demirtaş and Osman Kavala, alongside broader judicial reforms. According to Karayılan, such steps are required to establish trust.

"The state and the government have taken no legal action. There is no legal status that justifies trust," he stated.

Refusal to Disarm Without Guarantees

Responding to demands from pro-government circles in Turkey for the PKK to disarm as a prerequisite for further talks, Karayılan rejected the proposal, labeling it unrealistic.

"This stance is an imposition of 'submission' and leads to a deadlock," he claimed.

He argued that within the context of regional instability—specifically citing the US-Israel War on Iran and the widespread deployment of UAVs and missiles—disarmament without constitutional or legal guarantees would be "far from rational."

"Our guarantee is our forces, our weapons, and our security system," Karayılan added.

Context: Abdullah Öcalan’s Shift Toward Political Solution

Karayılan’s remarks appear to diverge from the directives issued by the imprisoned PKK leader, Abdullah Öcalan, who has repeatedly advocated for an end to armed struggle in favor of a political settlement.

On February 27, 2025, Öcalan called for the disarmament and dissolution of the PKK as part of a renewed peace initiative. Subsequently, in July 2025, a contingent of PKK fighters held a symbolic event in Sulaymaniyah where they burned their weapons.

In a more recent message dated March 31, 2026, Öcalan declared that "the era of armed struggle has ended," urging a transition toward democratic political engagement. He specifically requested a legal and institutional framework, led by the TBMM, to provide for identity rights and political participation.

Uncertain Path Ahead

Despite Öcalan's directives, Karayılan’s comments underscore deep-seated mistrust between the armed group's leadership in the field and the Turkish administration.

Past peace efforts, most notably the 2013–2015 resolution process, collapsed and resulted in a return to hostilities. The viability of the current initiative remains contingent on whether Ankara introduces legal reforms and whether Kurdish armed groups continue de-escalation measures.