After the first recorded message by Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan in 26 years, attention now turns to the ceremony to be held in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. In his video message, Öcalan said: “I believe not in the arms, but in the power of politics and social peace and call on you put this principle into practice.”

 

All eyes from Kurdistan, Turkey, and around the world will be on the ceremony in Sulaymaniyah, which signals a new phase for the "Peace and Democratic Society Process" in the Kurdistan Region.

 

Organized by the Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, a group from the PKK will hold a disarmament ceremony, which will be attended by writers, intellectuals, politicians, and journalists traveling from Amed to Sulaymaniyah.

 

POLITICAL PARTIES 

 

The following political parties, human rights and legal organizations, associations, and civil society organizations have been invited and are expected to send representatives:

 

Revolutionary Party, Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), Green Left Party, Socialist Reconstitution Party (SYKP), Socialist Solidarity Platform (SODAP), Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP), Social Freedom Party (TÖP), Labor Party (EMEP), Labor Movement Party (EHP), Federation of Socialist Assemblies (SMF), People’s Houses, Left Party, Felicity Party, Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA), Future Party, Re-Welfare Party, Republican People’s Party (CHP), Homeland Party.

 

Co-chairpersons and spokespeople of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP), Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK), Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, and Democratic Unity Initiative are also expected to attend the ceremony in Sulaymaniyah.

 

KURDISTANI PARTIES

 

Kurdistan Communist Party (KKP), Partiya İnsan û Azadî / Human and Freedom Party (PİA), Kurdistan Socialist Party (PSK), Kurdistan Democratic Party-Turkey (PDK), Partiya Azadî, Hereketa Azadî, Revolutionary Democratic Kurdish Association (DDKD), KDP-Bakur.

 

BAR ASSOCIATIONS AND LEGAL ORGANIZATIONS

 

Bar associations in Kurdistan, Asrın Law Office, Turkish Bar Association (TBB), Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD), Contemporary Lawyers Association (ÇHD), Peace Foundation, Human Rights Association (İHD), Social Initiative for Peace, Rights and Justice Initiative, Art Initiative for Peace, MAZLUMDER.

 

CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESS CIRCLES

 

Confederation of Public Employees’ Trade Unions (KESK), Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK), Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB), Turkish Medical Association (TTB), Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TÜRK-İŞ), HAK-İŞ Confederation, Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD), Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (MÜSİAD), Diyarbakır Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (DİSİAD), Southeastern Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (GÜNSİAD), Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), Federation of Eastern and Southeastern Businessmen’s Associations, Union of Turkish Municipalities.

 

ALEVI AND WOMEN’S ORGANIZATIONS

 

Free Women’s Movement (Tevgera Jinên Azad - TJA), Mothers for Peace, feminist organizations, Alevi Bektashi Federation (ABF), Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association (PSAKD), Turkey Alevi Federation (ADFE), European Alevi Unions Confederation (AABK), General Center of Alevi Cultural Associations (AKD), Şêx Seîd Association, Democratic Alevi Associations (DAD), Democratic Islam Congress (DİK), Association of Families Who Lost Relatives in the Cradle of Civilizations (MEBYA-DER), Federation of Legal Aid Associations for Families of Prisoners and Convicts (TUHAD-FED), ‘78ers’ Initiative.

 

ROBOSKI AND GEZI FAMILIES

 

Initiative for Peace, Saturday Mothers, Roboski Families, October 10 Families, Suruç Families, and Gezi Families.

 

It has been learned that numerous representatives from Syriac, Armenian, Circassian, Arab, Laz, and Azeri communities will also be among those attending the ceremony.