KDP Leader Masoud Barzani Reiterates His Support for the Peace Process in Turkey

Masoud Barzani speaking at the 4th International Melayê Cizîrî Symposium | Picture Credits: Mezopotamya Ajansı

Masoud Barzani, president of Iraq’s Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), arrived in the border town of Cizîr on Saturday to address the 4th International Melayê Cizîrî Symposium, where he reiterated his support for Turkey’s latest effort to revive peace talks with the country’s Kurdish population.

The visit came amid tight security and scattered tensions in Cizîr (a Kurdish town on the Turkey-Iraq-Syria border), underscoring the delicate backdrop against which Ankara is pursuing renewed negotiations after decades of conflict.

In his address, Barzani thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned founder of the now-dissolved Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), for taking “positive steps” in the “Peace and Democratic Society Process,” a phraseology used by Kurdish actors to refer to the ongoing dialogue. He also signalled the KDP’s willingness to support the process.

“They opened the door to Peace”

Barzani was greeted at the Habur Border Crossing by Ayşegül Doğan, spokesperson for Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), along with deputies of Şırnak, Newroz Uysal Aslan, and Mehmet Zeki İrmez.  A large crowd accompanied them at the border. Later, as Barzani entered his hotel, a brief scuffle broke out between the security team of Deputy Interior Minister Münir Karaoğlu and Barzani’s own guards. The incident occurred when Barzani’s security personnel reportedly blocked Karaoğlu from approaching, apparently unaware he was the deputy minister.

“We are very happy that this process has begun. This time, we see that the process has begun more seriously. This came about because the nation, Parliament, and all parties support the state in this process.”

Speaking at the symposium, Barzani highlighted the significance of the poet Melayê Cizîrî in Kurdish culture and literature, and remarked on what many observers see as a renewed momentum toward peace talks in Turkey. “We are very happy that this process has begun. This time, we see that the process has begun more seriously. This came about because the nation, Parliament, and all parties support the state in this process. I thank President [Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan, the Parliament, and the people of Turkey; they opened the door to peace, which is the best door and the best option. I also thank Mr. Öcalan for the positive steps he has taken. I want to say here that we support this process with all our strength, and we are ready to do whatever is required of us, to the extent that we can,” Barzani said.

Melayê Cizîrî (1570–1640) is a prominent Kurdish poet, scholar, and religious figure from the region around Cizîr. He is considered one of the most important contributors to Kurdish literature and classical Kurdish poetry. 

Allegations by co-mayors of threats and assault

On the same day, Cizîr co-Mayors Güler Tunç Yerbasan and Abdurahim Durmuş from the DEM Party stated that they were threatened by Şırnak’s Police Chief Şuayip Öğdür as they attempted to enter the hotel to attend the symposium. Their vehicle was reportedly held at the protocol entrance for an extended period. According to the co-mayors, Öğdür pointed his finger at Yerbasan and threatened her, “This will be your last action.” He then insulted them and instructed police officers to assault the co-mayors and their group to force them away from the hotel. Following the incident, the latter did not attend the symposium.

“We welcome President Barzani’s visit with great pleasure. He is at home here, and we are at home with him. Today is our first experience of this kind.”

DEM Party spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan welcomed Barzani’s visit, saying it strengthens dialogue within Kurdish communities. “We welcome President Barzani’s visit with great pleasure.. He is at home here, and we are at home with him. Today is our first experience of this kind. We hope it will foster internal cooperation and further strengthen our pursuit of democratic solutions and peace,” she said.

She also implicitly criticized the assault on the co-mayors earlier in the day, noting, “Today there is a symposium. Ideally, it could have been a larger event. Ideally, the mayors of Cizre from our party would also have been guests.”

Police intervention against a group carrying the Kurdistan regional flag

A group waiting to welcome Barzani, carrying the official flag of the Kurdistan Region, was also met with police intervention. Members of the group were reportedly beaten and removed from the area, and one person was taken into custody.

The International Melayê Cizîrî Symposium, comprising 17 sessions, continued throughout the day. Barzani was scheduled to visit the Medreseya Sor, a historic school in Cizîr, associated with Kurdish literary history, and the Mem û Zîn tombs later in the day. Mem and Zîn are the main characters of a famous Kurdish epic poem written by Ehmedê Xanî (1650–1707), a Kurdish scholar and poet.