Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (Dem) Party has issued a strong condemnation of the ongoing US-Israeli military operations against Iran, characterizing them as imperialist endeavors rather than genuine efforts to promote democracy. The party, which holds the third-largest parliamentary bloc, expressed skepticism about Western motives, stating that global powers appear more interested in establishing a regional order that serves their interests than in fostering genuine freedoms.
The Dem Party’s statement emphasized that ongoing airstrikes fail to create conditions conducive to liberation for Iran’s diverse ethnic and religious minorities, including Kurds, Balochs, Christians, and Azerbaijanis. While acknowledging the oppressive nature of Iran’s regime and commemorating victims like Jina Mahsa Amini and Ramin Hossein Panahi, the party insisted that regime change must originate from internal popular will rather than external intervention.
Co-chair Tulay Hatimogulları addressed parliament, warning that the conflict risks engulfing the entire region after already spreading to Iraq, Lebanon, and Gulf states. She revealed that a girls’ primary school had been struck in the attacks, resulting in over 150 casualties among schoolchildren.
The developments occur against a complex backdrop of Kurdish political dynamics. While Turkey has made significant progress in peace talks with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), resulting in the group’s disbandment after four decades of conflict, concerns remain about its Iranian affiliate, the Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK). Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan acknowledged monitoring whether PJAK might attempt to launch an insurgency in Iran, which could impact Ankara’s delicate peace process.
Meanwhile, Iranian forces have targeted Iranian Kurdish opposition groups in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, with drone strikes hitting headquarters of multiple Kurdish parties including the Kurdistan Freedom Party and Komala Party. This escalation suggests broadening regional tensions that extend beyond the immediate US-Israeli-Iranian confrontation.