Evaluating the recent footage of the PKK laying down arms and the background of the process, Political Scientist Prof. Deniz Ülke Kaynak stated, “This event is part of a process rooted in the 19th century, matured in the early 20th century, and can be interpreted today as a continuation of the National Struggle, the War of Independence.”
Prof. Kaynak: “Neutralizing this terrorist organization, which has existed for 40 years, marks an extremely significant historical and strategic turning point.”
Kaynak added: “The burning of weapons does not merely signify a technical ‘disarmament.’ It also carries a powerful psychological meaning: to burn is to close an era in a way that is irreversible.”
Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Üsküdar University, Prof. Deniz Ülke Kaynak analyzed the PKK’s disarmament footage and the process behind it from political, psychological, and strategic perspectives.
The disarmament footage was built over a long process
Stating that the disarmament footage was constructed over an extended process, Prof. Kaynak emphasized, “It’s important to highlight that these developments did not emerge suddenly. On the contrary, we are facing a meticulously planned structure that is the product of a long-term technical, intelligence, military, and diplomatic process. This event is part of a historical process that traces back to the 19th century, matured in the early 20th century, and can now be seen as a continuation of Türkiye’s National Struggle and War of Independence. It is a struggle against an ideology shaped by global powers with imperialist goals, aiming to undermine the indivisible integrity of the Republic of Türkiye within the borders of the National Pact.”
Türkiye has been eroded by the PKK for over 40 years
Prof. Kaynak noted that her assessment was not based on individual militants or sympathizers, but on international structures and strategic frameworks behind the issue: “For over 40 years, Türkiye has been systematically undermined economically, psychologically, socially, and politically through the PKK. This has acted like a poison circulating through the nation’s veins, damaging the sense of trust and pushing people to approach both each other and the state with suspicion. The losses suffered, martyrs given, veterans injured, and the social fabric damaged are all indicators of deep trauma. The point we have reached today clearly shows that the National Struggle still continues and must continue. The dismantled organization is actually a continuation of a political movement whose roots were planted in earlier times. Neutralizing this terrorist group that has existed for 40 years is a historically and strategically critical milestone. We have dismantled an organization that has persisted for four decades.”
The party laying down arms is the one surrendering
Prof. Kaynak refuted claims circulating on social media and in some TV broadcasts that “a new era is beginning” or “a Kurdish state is being established” in Türkiye: “What must be clearly understood here is which side has laid down arms. The party that lays down arms is the party that surrenders. This is very clear. Of course, the organization will try to craft narratives to avoid appearing defeated to its base. After all, we’re talking about a structure maintained for over 40 years, and the losses they have suffered are well known. But the current process is being managed and organized entirely by the state. At this stage, provocations may arise. In conflict-ending periods like this, structures that thrive on conflict, such as drug traffickers, human traffickers, arms smugglers, tend to become active. Even longstanding topics of debate like the village guard system must be reconsidered within this ecosystem. The sociological, economic, and political conditions that gave rise to this system must be re-evaluated to prevent the recurrence of similar circumstances.”
This is neither an end nor a beginning
Prof. Kaynak stated that the current point is not an end, nor a complete beginning, but an interim phase: “In the upcoming period, legal regulations aimed at reintegrating those who joined the organization but did not directly engage in criminal activities will likely come to the fore. Similarly, regulations concerning the fate of the organization's leaders and executive cadre will also become inevitable.”
The legal process is a crucial aspect of the next phase
Highlighting the importance of the legal process in the next stage, Prof. Kaynak continued: “However, from a deeper and more strategic perspective, the main issue is this: While the operational conditions for terrorism may have been eliminated in the field, have the goals of the imperialist powers who exploited these conditions come to an end? The answer is no. If the PKK ends, the CKK begins. Therefore, first, we must always be prepared for the emergence of new proxy structures of this kind. Second, to prevent these types of movements from taking root again among broad segments of society, we must undertake a robust preparatory process both mentally and ideologically.”
“We need an approach that will restore the voluntary bond between the state and its citizens and reinforce social cohesion. Because this struggle cannot be sustained by brute force alone. After all, those who fled to the mountains were our own children. Perhaps they could have served in the Turkish Armed Forces, but they were deceived, manipulated, and drawn into another structure. From that moment on, they became a loss for us. Therefore, to ensure that similar situations do not recur, and to prevent future generations from falling into the same traps, we must act more wisely, more holistically, and draw vital lessons from this experience.”
Burning is a permanent farewell...
At this point, Prof. Deniz Ülke Kaynak emphasized that several symbolic developments are worth noting. “As someone working in the field of political psychology, I must point out that the act of burning weapons is not merely a technical disarmament,” she said. “It also carries a powerful psychological meaning: to burn is to irreversibly close a chapter. Surrendering arms may be temporary, but burning them is a permanent farewell. Naturally, the organization will present this to its base as a message of ‘we are not surrendering,’ and develop such rhetoric. However, from an objective standpoint, the destruction of weapons in a way that renders them unusable is a highly symbolic act.”
Bese Hozat: One of the most influential figures after Öcalan
Prof. Kaynak also underlined the importance of the fact that the group surrendering their weapons includes both men and women. “And especially the presence of Bese Hozat in this group is highly significant,” she said. “Bese Hozat is one of the most influential figures in the organization after Öcalan, and the leader of the women’s branch. The beginning of a mass dissolution of a structure that has been involved, directly or indirectly, in terrorist acts targeting a broad segment of society from teachers to police officers, soldiers to civilians, is a development of major symbolic and strategic importance. This surrender process appears to be structured to include senior representatives of the organization, which further indicates the seriousness of the process.”
The entire process is taking place in the public eye
Another important point, Prof. Kaynak noted, is that the entire process is now unfolding before the public and witnesses. “When you look at the footage, you don’t see expressions of unhappiness among the parties involved. Naturally, some parts of the statements made may be disturbing depending on the listener’s perspective. However, one must remember: the organization must narrate this process to its own base. Therefore, it will need to attach meaning to this return process and attempt to legitimize it through symbolic or defensive declarations.”
An armed organization is no longer active!
Prof. Kaynak continued: “At this stage, anyone could cherry-pick a sentence from the opposing side’s statements and claim that the process is deteriorating. Groups within the PKK opposed to disarmament will undoubtedly express their discontent to their own followers. Additionally, there are actors, whether political or economic, who may try to distort the development into something else: false narratives such as ‘a bigger war is coming’ or ‘a Kurdish state is being established’ may circulate. Yet the reality is quite clear: an armed organization has now exited the scene. That alone is a positive development.”
We must now proceed with strategic reasoning
Prof. Kaynak emphasized that the disarmament of a terrorist organization that, for 40 years, inflicted harm on Türkiye’s social, political, and psychological fabric and infiltrated wide segments of society, is a positive step under any circumstances. “So, does this step mean everything is over? No, it does not. The National Struggle will continue, albeit in a different form. To quote the famous phrase: ‘There is no line of defense, there is only a surface of defense.’ And now, that surface is not limited to national territory alone; the entire world has become that surface. Moreover, this defense is not only spatial, and it also has a temporal dimension. We are going through a time that demands vigilance at all moments and under all circumstances. The world has entered a phase of complex fractures filled with new risks. In the period ahead, we may face numerous threats and uncertainties. Therefore, we must recognize the value of every positive development, while also moving forward with constant awareness and strategic thinking.”
The footage was intentionally released to the public and the international community
Prof. Kaynak further stated that the current environment remains vulnerable to provocation. “Türkiye has now entered a phase reminiscent of the ‘Habur footage’ period. We have not forgotten the major provocations that occurred during previous resolution processes. Many events took place, and martyrs were lost. We experienced devastating bomb attacks. Every time a ‘ceasefire’ or ‘peace process’ was declared, it was soon disrupted. Today, these visuals could very well have remained undisclosed. However, it appears that this time the images were intentionally shared with both the domestic and international public. And this has been carried out in a very controlled manner.”
The images are hopeful and psychologically strong
Prof. Kaynak acknowledged that such processes inherently carry risks: “Nevertheless, despite all these threats, the images that have emerged are hopeful and psychologically powerful. They may have a positive effect in terms of public persuasion. But more importantly, these images can clearly deliver the message to the international community that ‘the PKK is over.’ Because in Europe and other parts of the world, there are still organizations providing financial support to the PKK. Therefore, strong and symbolic messages showing that the organization has disarmed and that the process is complete will carry much more weight in the international arena.”
The state has done the right thing regarding the footage
Highlighting that, typically, filming is not allowed in such processes, Prof. Kaynak concluded her remarks as follows: “Or if it is, the footage is released in a highly controlled manner. In this instance, the state has done the right thing. From what I can see, under the leadership of İbrahim Kalın, the National Intelligence Organization has conducted a very successful and meticulous process. On the other hand, social media presents a more provocative picture. There is an intense barrage of information from various factions aimed at diminishing the impact of the event or preventing it from being perceived as a ‘victory.’ Therefore, rather than resorting to bans or censorship to prevent disinformation on social media, what we need is a strategic communication plan that promotes the proliferation of alternative viewpoints. In general, the state’s reflex in Türkiye tends to lean toward restriction and prohibition. Yet, the most effective way to defeat an idea is not to silence it, but to counter it with a stronger, more persuasive, legitimate, and rational one. Ideas are not defeated by brute force; they are defeated by other ideas. Unfortunately, we sometimes rely too heavily on force instead of engaging in intellectual struggle. I assume, and hope, that social media strategies have been pre-planned in this process. Social media has become a major space that shapes public perception. Therefore, it must not be left unattended.”
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)