Latest news with #Bahceli
Mint
7 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Erdogan's Key Ally Proposes Vice Presidency for Minorities
(Bloomberg) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's top political ally has proposed senior government positions to be held by the country's Kurdish and Alevi minorities in a surprise statement. Devlet Bahceli, chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party, raised the suggestion in a closed-door party meeting on July 18, according to a statement from his party on Monday. A potential outreach from the MHP — an informal coalition partner of Erdogan's ruling AK Party — is significant, as the party has typically pursued an ultra-nationalist ideology. Until two years ago, Erdogan drew attention to opposition presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu's Alevi background and also claimed that the CHP had links to the Kurdish separatist group PKK, in an effort to rally nationalist and religious voters. Alevis are a religious minority in Turkey who follow a distinct interpretation of Islam, with beliefs and rituals that differ from those of the Sunni majority. Turkey currently has one vice president who's appointed by the president. Bahceli's proposal is part of his broader efforts of what he calls to create 'a terror-free' state as he's softened his rhetoric in past months. That's included encouraging the government to hold peace talks with PKK, as well with pro-Kurdish DEM with the initial outreach coming from Bahceli. Securing the backing of pro-Kurdish DEM Party, which has 56 seats in parliament, could help Erdogan and the MHP reach the threshold needed to change the Constitution, a long-running desire for the president. Some critics say that constitutional amendment is for Erdogan to extend his rule for another term as it's impossible under the current laws. The president has not explicitly expressed his desire to stay in power for more but his top aides and Bahceli have voiced their support. Bahceli, 77, who's built his politics on hardline nationalism surprised observers when he made a peace call to the PKK. The group's jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan, welcomed the call. Earlier this month, the PKK began laying down its arms, marking the first concrete step toward disarmament since it announced plans to dissolve in May. More stories like this are available on
Boston Globe
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Kurdish separatist fighters in Iraq begin laying down weapons as part of peace process with Turkey
In Turkey, Devlet Bahceli, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's nationalist ally who initiated the peace process, welcomed the development. Advertisement 'Starting today, members of the separatist terrorist organization have begun surrendering their weapons in groups, marking historic developments that signal the end of a dark era,' Bahceli said in a written statement. 'These are exceptionally important days for both Turkey and our region.' Bahceli, who has traditionally maintained a hardline stance against the PKK, had surprised everyone in October when he suggested in parliament that Öcalan could be granted parole if he renounced violence and disbanded the PKK. The ceremony took place in the mountains outside the city of Sulaymaniyah in northern Iraq's semiautonomous Kurdish region. The state-run Iraqi News Agency reported that 'the process will take place in stages, with a group of party members initially laying down their weapons ;symbolically.'' The disarmament process is expected to be completed by September, the agency reported. Advertisement The PKK has long maintained bases in the mountains of northern Iraq. Turkish forces have launched offensives and airstrikes against the PKK in Iraq and have set up bases in the area. Scores of villages have emptied as a result. The Iraqi government in Baghdad last year announced an official ban on the separatist group, which has long been prohibited in Turkey. Journalists were not allowed at the site of Friday's ceremony. An Iraqi Kurdish political official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, said that about 30 fighters took part in the ceremony, which took place in the presence of a representative of the Turkish intelligence service and representatives of the Kurdish regional government, Iraq's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party, and the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party, a pro-Kurdish party in Turkey. PKK officials previously said that in order to continue the disarmament process, they want to see Turkey take steps to end 'the regime of isolation' imposed on Öcalan in prison and to allow integration of former militants into the political system. Associated Press writers Abby Sewell in Beirut and Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, contributed to this report.
South Wales Guardian
11-07-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Kurdish separatist fighters in Iraq begin laying down weapons
The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) announced in May it would disband and renounce armed conflict, ending four decades of hostilities. The move came after PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who has been imprisoned on an island near Istanbul since 1999, urged his group in February to convene a congress and formally disband and disarm. Ocalan renewed his call in a video message broadcast on Wednesday, saying: 'I believe in the power of politics and social peace, not weapons.' In Turkey, Devlet Bahceli, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's nationalist ally who initiated the peace process, welcomed the development. 'Starting today, members of the separatist terrorist organisation have begun surrendering their weapons in groups, marking historic developments that signal the end of a dark era,' Mr Bahceli said in a written statement. 'These are exceptionally important days for both Turkey and our region.' Mr Bahceli, who has traditionally maintained a hardline stance against the PKK, had surprised everyone in October when he suggested in parliament that Ocalan could be granted parole if he renounced violence and disbanded the PKK. The ceremony took place in the mountains outside the city of Sulaymaniyah in northern Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region. The state-run Iraqi News Agency reported that 'the process will take place in stages, with a group of party members initially laying down their weapons 'symbolically''. The disarmament process is expected to be completed by September, the agency reported. The PKK has long maintained bases in the mountains of northern Iraq. Turkish forces have launched offensives and air strikes against the PKK in Iraq and have set up bases in the area. Scores of villages have emptied as a result. The Iraqi government in Baghdad last year announced an official ban on the separatist group, which has long been prohibited in Turkey. Journalists were not allowed at the site of Friday's ceremony. An Iraqi Kurdish political official said that about 30 fighters took part in the ceremony, which took place in the presence of a representative of the Turkish intelligence service and representatives of the Kurdish regional government, Iraq's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party, and the People's Equality and Democracy Party, a pro-Kurdish party in Turkey. PKK officials previously said that in order to continue the disarmament process, they want to see Turkey take steps to end 'the regime of isolation' imposed on Ocalan in prison and to allow integration of former militants into the political system.
Rhyl Journal
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
Kurdish separatist fighters in Iraq begin laying down weapons
The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) announced in May it would disband and renounce armed conflict, ending four decades of hostilities. The move came after PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who has been imprisoned on an island near Istanbul since 1999, urged his group in February to convene a congress and formally disband and disarm. Ocalan renewed his call in a video message broadcast on Wednesday, saying: 'I believe in the power of politics and social peace, not weapons.' In Turkey, Devlet Bahceli, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's nationalist ally who initiated the peace process, welcomed the development. 'Starting today, members of the separatist terrorist organisation have begun surrendering their weapons in groups, marking historic developments that signal the end of a dark era,' Mr Bahceli said in a written statement. 'These are exceptionally important days for both Turkey and our region.' Mr Bahceli, who has traditionally maintained a hardline stance against the PKK, had surprised everyone in October when he suggested in parliament that Ocalan could be granted parole if he renounced violence and disbanded the PKK. The ceremony took place in the mountains outside the city of Sulaymaniyah in northern Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region. The state-run Iraqi News Agency reported that 'the process will take place in stages, with a group of party members initially laying down their weapons 'symbolically''. The disarmament process is expected to be completed by September, the agency reported. The PKK has long maintained bases in the mountains of northern Iraq. Turkish forces have launched offensives and air strikes against the PKK in Iraq and have set up bases in the area. Scores of villages have emptied as a result. The Iraqi government in Baghdad last year announced an official ban on the separatist group, which has long been prohibited in Turkey. Journalists were not allowed at the site of Friday's ceremony. An Iraqi Kurdish political official said that about 30 fighters took part in the ceremony, which took place in the presence of a representative of the Turkish intelligence service and representatives of the Kurdish regional government, Iraq's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party, and the People's Equality and Democracy Party, a pro-Kurdish party in Turkey. PKK officials previously said that in order to continue the disarmament process, they want to see Turkey take steps to end 'the regime of isolation' imposed on Ocalan in prison and to allow integration of former militants into the political system.
North Wales Chronicle
11-07-2025
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Kurdish separatist fighters in Iraq begin laying down weapons
The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) announced in May it would disband and renounce armed conflict, ending four decades of hostilities. The move came after PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who has been imprisoned on an island near Istanbul since 1999, urged his group in February to convene a congress and formally disband and disarm. Ocalan renewed his call in a video message broadcast on Wednesday, saying: 'I believe in the power of politics and social peace, not weapons.' In Turkey, Devlet Bahceli, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's nationalist ally who initiated the peace process, welcomed the development. 'Starting today, members of the separatist terrorist organisation have begun surrendering their weapons in groups, marking historic developments that signal the end of a dark era,' Mr Bahceli said in a written statement. 'These are exceptionally important days for both Turkey and our region.' Mr Bahceli, who has traditionally maintained a hardline stance against the PKK, had surprised everyone in October when he suggested in parliament that Ocalan could be granted parole if he renounced violence and disbanded the PKK. The ceremony took place in the mountains outside the city of Sulaymaniyah in northern Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region. The state-run Iraqi News Agency reported that 'the process will take place in stages, with a group of party members initially laying down their weapons 'symbolically''. The disarmament process is expected to be completed by September, the agency reported. The PKK has long maintained bases in the mountains of northern Iraq. Turkish forces have launched offensives and air strikes against the PKK in Iraq and have set up bases in the area. Scores of villages have emptied as a result. The Iraqi government in Baghdad last year announced an official ban on the separatist group, which has long been prohibited in Turkey. Journalists were not allowed at the site of Friday's ceremony. An Iraqi Kurdish political official said that about 30 fighters took part in the ceremony, which took place in the presence of a representative of the Turkish intelligence service and representatives of the Kurdish regional government, Iraq's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party, and the People's Equality and Democracy Party, a pro-Kurdish party in Turkey. PKK officials previously said that in order to continue the disarmament process, they want to see Turkey take steps to end 'the regime of isolation' imposed on Ocalan in prison and to allow integration of former militants into the political system.
