[Today's Prayer] PKK Against Turkish Government: "Disband the Organization, End the Armed Struggle"

The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a Kurdish separatist armed group, made a surprise declaration on the 12th (local time) that it would disband the organization and end the armed struggle it had waged against the Turkish government.

According to the pro-Kurdish media outlet ANF News Agency, the PKK said in a statement that day, "We evaluate that the PKK has fulfilled its historical mission."

The PKK said, "The PKK's struggle has brought down the policy of genocide against our people and has brought the Kurdish issue to a level where it can be resolved through democratic politics," and "We will disband the PKK's organizational structure and end the armed struggle."

(omitted)

In a statement, Ömer Çelik, the spokesman for Turkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), welcomed the PKK's decision to disband and lay down its arms as a "meaningful step toward achieving the goal of a 'Turkiye without terrorism.'"

He went on to explain that the authorities would closely monitor the process of disbanding the PKK and report to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Kurds make up about 20% of Turkey's population of 87 million.

The PKK has been waging an armed struggle based in Syria and northern Iraq, demanding the establishment of an independent state or autonomy in southeastern Turkiye, where Kurds are the majority. More than 40,000 people have died in armed conflicts so far. Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union (EU) have designated the PKK as a terrorist organization.

The PKK's announcement is seen as a political achievement for the Turkish pan-government and President Erdogan, who have been seeking reconciliation with Kurdish armed groups.

Last October, Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP), which is allied with the AKP, made an unprecedented offer to Ocalan, who was arrested and sentenced to death in 1999, that he would be pardoned if he promised to abandon the organization and stop violence.

In response, President Erdogan said, "Thanks to the MHP, we have a great opportunity," and "Our goal is a 'Turkiye without terrorism,'" clearly expressing his support.

After behind-the-scenes negotiations between the ruling party and the pro-Kurdish opposition People's Democratic Party (DEM), Ocalan urged in February that "all groups should lay down their weapons and the PKK should disband itself," and in March, the PKK declared a ceasefire with Turkey.

Source: Yonhap News

“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.” (Psalm 62:5-6)

Father God, we see Turkiye welcoming the declaration by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, a Kurdish separatist armed group, that it will disband the organization and end its armed struggle against the Turkish government, as a meaningful step toward achieving the goal of a “Turkiye without terrorism.”

Thank you for the grace of the Lord that has allowed the Kurds and Turkiye to find political stability after a long period of conflict.

We cannot know how long this stability and peace will last with the power of the world, but please allow all things work together for good through the prayers of the local churches and the global church.

So when the Kurds and Turks, who are wounded by conflict, look to Jesus, their only hope, let Jesus be enthroned as the eternal rock, fortress, and savior for the Kurds and Turks.

Let the Kurds and Turks love each other and unite until the day the Lord returns, and let them become a channel for all nations to become one with God’s love.

In the last days, please let us see the Kurds and Turks rise up as weapons of the gospel that advance among all nations with the holy Great Commission!

May we see the work of all nations hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ be fulfilled through the Kurds and Turks!