Mixed reactions in Diyarbakir as Turkey approves conditional PKK pardon
Turkey's parliament approved a conditional pardon for PKK militants. Diyarbakir residents react with cautious hope and skepticism.
Residents of Diyarbakir, Turkey's Kurdish-majority city, responded with a mixture of hope and caution on Tuesday after parliament approved a conditional pardon for thousands of Kurdish militants. The legislation, passed overwhelmingly on Monday, is part of a broader peace effort between the Turkish state and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
The pardon would only take effect after Turkish authorities confirm that the group has fully disarmed. The PKK announced last year that it was ending its decades-long armed campaign and dissolving itself, following a call from its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan.
Ali Akdogan, a 70-year-old retiree in Diyarbakir, expressed optimism. "I believe it brings peace. It truly brings peace," he said. "In the last year or two, has there been anything? A funeral? A martyr? No."
Others were more measured. Hasan Gecti, another resident, acknowledged potential benefits but questioned whether the core issue had been addressed. "This will undoubtedly affect citizens in every aspect, especially in terms of economy and other developments. And we are pleased about this," he said. "But of course, has the Kurdish issue been directly resolved? That's a bit of a question mark. I think only the terrorism issue has been resolved. Unfortunately, the Kurdish issue still remains."
Mehmet Kaya, president of the Diyarbakir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, framed the vote as a potential turning point. "The Kurdish issue is a process that the state is not trying to correct, but rather supports through its security policies," he said. "Now, if the steps to be taken from now on eliminate these issues and if sustainable democratization, social policies, and economic policies develop—which is the expectation—then the region will pass through an important phase."
The conflict has spanned four decades and cost tens of thousands of lives. Residents now wait to see whether the parliamentary vote translates into lasting change on the ground.