On 26 June 2025, the Centre for Kurdish Progress hosted an international conference at the UK Parliament to discuss peace and stability in Turkey, the Kurdish regions, and the wider Middle East. Bringing together parliamentarians, academics, journalists, trade unionists, and civil society representatives, the event was chaired and supported by leading figures across politics and activism.
Session One: The Road to Peace: Turkey, the Kurds and Regional Stability in the Middle East
Chaired by Osman Baydemir, former MP of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), this session featured prominent voices from Kurdish politics, journalism, and academia. Speakers included Tuncer Bakırhan (Co-Chair, DEM Party), Ezgi Başaran (Journalist and Academic, University of Oxford), Ferhad Hemmi (Journalist and Researcher, Kobanî, Rojava), and Prof. Abbas Vali (Middle East Politics Expert).
The discussion focused on democratic solutions to the Kurdish question in Turkey, the impact of regional conflicts such as Israeli policies in Gaza on Turkey’s foreign policy, and the vital role of Abdullah Öcalan’s philosophy in shaping Rojava’s self-administration. Prof. Abbas Vali emphasised that peace cannot be achieved without democracy, underlining the necessity of developing democratic institutions and processes.
Session Two: Peace and Reconciliation Processes Around the World
Chaired by Clare Baker of Unite the Union, this panel drew on international experiences of conflict resolution and reconciliation. Lord Maurice Glasman, Labour life peer and founder of the Blue Labour movement, reflected on the importance of community-rooted politics and stressed the Labour Party’s responsibility to support lasting peace efforts between Turkey and the Kurds.
Mariela Kohon, Assistant Director at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and adviser to the Colombian peace process, shared insights from Colombia’s journey towards reconciliation, while Seán Byers from Trademark Belfast discussed the crucial role of trade unions in Northern Ireland’s peace process.
Session Three: Promoting Peace: Opportunities for UK Engagement
Chaired by Simon Dubbins, Chair of Freedom for Öcalan UK Trade Union Campaign, the final session explored the UK’s potential contributions to advancing peace. Oxford barrister and PhD candidate Stephen Knight analysed the legal challenges faced by the Kurdish freedom movement, highlighting how criminalisation policies complicate peace efforts.
Meral Çiçek of the Kurdish Women’s Movement emphasised that sustainable peace and democracy require the active participation and leadership of women, drawing attention to the intersection of gender and liberation.
The conference concluded with a shared commitment to support democratic peace processes and justice for all parties involved. The Centre for Kurdish Progress remains dedicated to fostering dialogue and international solidarity in pursuit of lasting peace in the region.
