Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) opens as Kurdish movement enters post-PKK era

At a pivotal juncture defined by the dissolution of the PKK and Abdullah Öcalan’s renewed call for peace, the 23rd Congress of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) convenes in the Netherlands, gathering over 300 delegates to articulate a collective vision for unity, democratic transition, and regional negotiation.

 24/05/2025

MEDYANEWS



The 23rd General Congress of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) commenced on Friday in Barlo, the Netherlands, against the backdrop of a transformative period in modern Kurdish political history. Bringing together more than 300 delegates representing the four parts of Kurdistan and the global diaspora, the congress aims to recalibrate the movement’s strategic direction in a post-conflict context.

This year’s congress is particularly significant, taking place less than a month after the formal dissolution of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) on 12 May 2025 and the renunciation of its decades-long armed campaign. Founded in 1999, the KNK has long functioned as a pan-Kurdish umbrella organisation committed to fostering national unity and enhancing transnational coordination across diverse political actors. Now, in the aftermath of the PKK’s disbandment, the KNK finds itself at the forefront of guiding the Kurdish national movement into a new era grounded in negotiation and diplomacy.

Related articles :

Kurdistan National Congress urges international engagement in post-PKK peace process in Turkey

PKK ends armed struggle after 40 years, entrusts transition to Öcalan

Central to this shift is the 27 February declaration by imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, who issued a wide-reaching appeal for a democratic and peaceful resolution to the Kurdish question. Öcalan’s message, which has since echoed throughout Kurdish communities and political institutions, provided the conceptual and strategic foundation for the dissolution of the PKK’s armed structure and the transition towards a civil political framework.

In a letter submitted to the congress, Cemil Bayık and Murat Karayılan, senior figures in the Kurdish freedom movement and long-serving members of the now-defunct PKK, reaffirmed their commitment to the KNK’s mission. They described Öcalan’s appeal as “historic in both its timing and scope”, and urged all Kurdish actors to rise to the occasion.

“The process initiated by Mr Öcalan is not only a response to present-day dynamics but also a forward-looking political project,” they wrote. “The decommissioning of our armed forces on 12 May signifies not an end but a transformation of the Kurdish struggle. We now enter a phase where democratic legitimacy and unity must be institutionalised through platforms such as the KNK.”

The letter further called for systematic dialogue and strategic planning among Kurdish organisations across the region and the diaspora, reiterating the need for an inclusive national conference. “This is a decisive historical moment,” the statement concluded. “KNK must lead the charge by fostering consensus, promoting solidarity, and ensuring that Kurdish political aspirations are expressed through unified, democratic means.”

The congress opened with welcoming addresses by KNK members Refîq Xefur and Dilsah Osman. Xefur paid tribute to fallen leaders of the movement and emphasised the moral responsibility to uphold their legacy. Osman, meanwhile, stressed the importance of transcending partisan boundaries, affirming: “While diversity is a natural strength, our shared struggle must always supersede individual or organisational interests.”

KNK Co-Chairs Zeynep Murad and Ahmet Karamus also delivered keynote speeches outlining the current political climate. Murad hailed the breadth of representation at the congress as a reflection of Kurdish resilience and plurality. Karamus situated the congress within a broader geopolitical analysis, citing instability in Syria, Ukraine, and the wider Middle East as both a warning and an opportunity.

“We are entering a volatile but potentially transformative period in regional affairs,” Karamus stated. “The collapse of former paradigms compels us to forge a new path, one built not on armed resistance but on strategic political engagement and unified action.”

The congress continued with the election of a new executive committee and the screening of a documentary tracing the KNK’s development over the past 26 years. Over the coming days, delegates will engage in policy deliberations and are expected to produce a final declaration outlining practical steps for the coming period.

Bayık and Karayılan send message to KNK Congress: National unity is an urgent task before us

In a joint message to the KNK Congress, Cemil Bayık and Murat Karayılan said, “The role and mission of the KNK in its founding purpose have grown even more in this process. The issue of national unity is an urgent task before all of us.”


ANF
THE HAGUE
Saturday, 24 May 2025, 14:11


The 23rd Ordinary General Congress of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) continued with the reading of a joint message sent by Cemil Bayık, Co-Chair of the KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union) Executive Council, and Murat Karayılan, a leading member of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party). The message sent to the KNK General Assembly stated the following:

"Dear members, friends, and comrades;

We greet the Congress Council, all participating friends, and colleagues, and wish the 23rd General Assembly of the KNK to be beneficial for our country and our people.

We would have liked to be present at the General Assembly of the KNK, of which we are proud to be members. However, as you are aware, we are unable to be among you at this time. Even though we are far away and unable to gather together at the meetings, we assure you that we will fulfill our duties in accordance with the objectives of the KNK to the best of our ability.

The Kurdistan National Congress (KNK), which has been working tirelessly for 26 years, has made the national unity of the Kurds its primary agenda since its establishment and has held numerous conferences, meetings, and other activities to this end. It has served as the diplomatic representative of the Kurdish people abroad. The primary objective of the KNK, of which we are also a member, has been to establish good relations with Kurdish political parties, organizations, institutions, civil society organizations, and political figures with the aim of developing relations among Kurds; to establish a common vision and common strategy. Today, if there is mutual dialogue and solidarity among Kurds, the KNK has been the fundamental foundation and platform for this.

Dear friends,

The Middle East, with Kurdistan at its center, has entered a new era of rapid developments. As new power balances and new relationships emerge in the Middle East, the Kurdish people are striving to play an active role in this process. To this end, it is of course essential that the Kurds develop a common strategy. This common strategy requires the Kurdish parties, organizations, institutions, and individuals in the four parts of Kurdistan and abroad to maintain constant and systematic relations, engage in joint discussions, and work together to form collective intelligence. At this stage, the KNK is carrying out this important work with dedication and has reached a point where it can be further expanded. We are fully confident that the Congress will adopt strong decisions and plans toward this end.

As is well known, Rêber (Leader) Abdullah Öcalan is conducting a dialogue process with the Turkish State on behalf of our movement in İmralı. This process is still ongoing. Our aim in conducting this process is to find a solution to the Kurdish issue through dialogue. As a movement, we believe that we have done more than our part at this stage. Now it is up to the other side. We hope that the other side will also fulfill its responsibilities and that we will reach a resolution.

The February 27 call of Rêber Apo (Abdullah Öcalan’s) and the developments that followed have directly influenced politics in the Middle East and Kurdistan, as well as strengthening the foundation for unity among Kurds. This historic call and the subsequent political developments have provided the most favorable ground for Kurds to establish a democratic national unity based on the short-, medium-, and long-term interests of our people on common platforms. Indeed, since the gains and identity of our people are under pressure and threat in almost every part of our country, the struggle to protect these gains and achieve national democratic rights has never ceased and continues. It will also further open the way for all other peoples living in our country to achieve their own rights and legal status. All social segments, especially women and youth, are the key dynamics of this process. Their participation and support will strengthen the goal of a democratic society and a democratic nation.

This call also necessitates the development of new relations with international powers, regional powers, peoples, and political actors. While developing new relations with international powers and regional actors, the Kurds must establish closer relations within themselves and form a broader and stronger unity. Our people have achieved a very important level of organization and awareness of freedom in all four parts. They have long since overcome the leaderless, unorganized, and powerless position they held in the last century. However, they will only be able to secure their rights and achieve a status commensurate with their advantages to the extent that they can unite under a common vision and strategy. The KNK is one of the most important stakeholders in this task and responsibility.

The role and mission of the KNK in its founding purpose has grown even more in this process. The Kurds have not yet fully achieved unity. The issue of national unity stands before us all as an urgent task. Rêber Apo has also emphasized this issue in his recent statements and called on everyone concerned to take action. A decision was made at the Lausanne Conference to hold a national conference. The KNK should make greater efforts in this regard and ensure that a national conference is convened within the specified framework.

In the coming period, we will continue our efforts for the national unity of the Kurds, both as members of the movement and as members of the KNK, and we will fulfill our responsibilities.

With this determination and conviction, we salute the general assembly and wish the newly elected administration success.”

23rd Ordinary Congress of the KNK begins

The 23rd Ordinary Congress of the KNK has begun. The two-day congress is attended by 300 delegates, dozens of political parties, institutional representatives, intellectuals, artists, writers, and opinion leaders.


ANF
THE HAGUE
Saturday, 24 May 2025

The 23rd Ordinary General Congress of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) began in the Netherlands on Saturday. The two-day congress is attended by 300 delegates from the four parts of Kurdistan, as well as dozens of political parties, institutional representatives, intellectuals, artists, writers, and opinion leaders from the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia, and European countries.

Founded in 1999, the KNK has been working for national unity and cooperation among Kurds for 26 years. The 23rd Ordinary Congress aims to comprehensively address national issues, develop joint solutions, and make strategic decisions for the future. The Congress began with the national anthem ‘Ey Raqip’ and a moment of silence.

Then, KNK members Refik Gefür and Dilşah Osman gave the opening speeches. Refik Gefür commemorated Rıza Altun and Ali Haydar Kaytan, leading members of the PKK, and Heci Ehmedi, founding member of PJAK and member of KNK. Gefür said, "The work carried out by KNK for 26 years is very valuable. The new process initiated by the call of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan is crucial for the consolidation of the Kurdish people's gains and their unity. We expect the Kurdish people to embrace this process in every part of the Kurdish homeland. The KNK has contributed to national unity through the meetings it has held with Kurdish parties and forces over the past 26 years. The work carried out in Europe and around the world has played a vital role in protecting the gains achieved by the Kurdish people through the sacrifices of their martyrs."

Dilşah Osman pointed out that Kurdish institutions are working in the areas of women's youth organization, diplomacy, and politics, saying, "Today, we are going through a very sensitive process as a people, and it is very important to manage this process correctly. The Kurdish people must speak with one voice in all four parts. Diversity is natural, and parties and individuals may vary, but the Kurdistan cause and issue must take precedence over the interests of everyone and every party. At this moment, we are in a hopeful period in terms of unity. We must strengthen this further. If the same ideas emerge from a meeting held in any part of Kurdistan, this is the result of 26 years of KNK work."

KNK Co-Chairs Ahmet Karamus and Zeynep Murad then delivered speeches.

Zeynep Murad greeted the delegates and said: "The participation of representatives of all segments of the Kurdish people and different parties in the congress is very valuable. This diversity will strengthen the congress with suggestions and discussions. We have entered a new process. This process began on February 27 with Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan ‘Call for Peace and Democratic Society’. The Kurdish people must embrace this process because it is a very important new period. We must protect our gains in Bashur (Southern Kurdistan) and Rojava (Northern Syria). In the face of the change in the Middle East, the Kurdish people must also transform themselves and evaluate new opportunities. As the Kurdish people, we must be prepared for this new process. All parties and forces must unite. We must protect the rights of our people by acting together in the face of these innovations. Unity breeds unity; this process must be further strengthened."

Ahmet Karamus stated that a new conjuncture has emerged in all four parts of Kurdistan to protect the gains made, but that new risks also exist, and assessed the situation in the world, the Middle East, and Kurdistan in particular. Ahmet Karamus stated: "The wars and conflicts involving Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Hamas, and Iran are harbingers of new developments. Finally, the changes in Syria have set an unexpected process in motion. All of this demonstrates the complex dimensions of developments in the Middle East. These developments are forcing us into a new era. As the Kurdish people, we must also be prepared for this era. In our previous assessments, we had expectations and political interpretations regarding change on the 100th anniversary of the Treaty of Lausanne. Looking at today's developments, this change is not only possible but also on the agenda. However, this is a two-sided possibility; it could lead to positive renewal, but it could also have negative consequences.

The process initiated by Mr. Abdullah Öcalan's call is very important. The politics that will be built on this call is significant and forward-looking. This call addresses not only current issues but also the search for solutions for the future. In this sense, we view this call as historically significant. Let us embrace this call in all four parts and fulfill our duties. The aim of Mr. Öcalan's call is to find solutions to problems and unite our people around a common goal, taking into account the stage reached by the Kurdish Freedom Movement in all four parts. A new process has begun, especially for Bakur (Northern Kurdistan). Regardless of its name, this process marks the beginning of a new era. In this process, all parties and all regions will have a role and responsibility. If we fail to fulfill the requirements of this process, it will be a significant shortcoming.

Following Karamus' speech, the Congress elected its presiding committee. Rebwar Raşid, Midya Abda, Rojin Mukreyan, Şex Şemal, and Yakup Mirza were elected to the committee.

A documentary presentation on the history and objectives of the KNK was then shown.

The Congress continues with speeches by the participants.

23rd Ordinary Congress of the KNK continues

National unity, dialogue between Kurds, the search for a political solution, and regional developments were discussed at today's sessions of the 23rd Ordinary Congress of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK).

ANF
THE HAGUE
Saturday, 24 May 2025


The Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) is holding its 23rd Ordinary General Congress in The Hague with the participation of 300 delegates from the four parts of Kurdistan, as well as dozens of political parties, institutional representatives, intellectuals, artists, writers, and opinion leaders from the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia, and European countries.

Arêz Abdullah spoke on behalf of the PUK (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan), Siyamend Muani on behalf of PJAK (Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan), Jalane Hewreman on behalf of the Hewreman Platform, Adil İlyasî on behalf of Rojhilat Komel, and Yakup Mirza, a Syriac delegate, each delivered a speech.

Arêz Abdullah, on behalf of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), read a message sent to the KNK congress. The PUK message emphasized the importance of resolving issues with Turkey in Bakur (Northern Kurdistan) through dialogue and negotiation, and stated that a common ground must be established at the political and diplomatic levels. The message read by Arêz Abdullah stated, “The negotiation table must be operational, and a strong will for a peaceful solution must be demonstrated.” The message also noted that the PUK supports the Kurdistan Regional Government's call for the establishment of a national unity government. PUK emphasized that national unity and internal political harmony are critical for protecting the gains of the Kurdish people, stating, “In this historic process, cooperation is essential to protect the rights and status of the Kurdish people. Gains in the four parts can only be sustained through a strong partnership.”

Speaking on behalf of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES), Bedran Çiya stated that Abdullah Öcalan’s February 27 ‘Call for Peace and Democratic Society’ marks the beginning of a vital period not only for Bakur but for the entire Kurdish people.

Bedran Çiya said, “If we have started talks in Damascus, it is because of the call made by Leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan).” He noted that the participation of many political forces, opinion leaders, and parties in the national meeting held in Qamishlo demonstrated the power of this call. Çiya stated that the Kurdish people in Rojava have waged a great struggle over the past 15 years and developed a solution model. He remarked that women have been at the forefront of this process and that a model based on democratic values has taken shape. “The struggle and gains in Rojava were made possible by the sacrifices of Kurdish youth in the four parts of Kurdistan. Rojava has reached this day with the blood of Kurdish youth in the four parts. These are not just the gains of the people there, but of all the Kurdish people,” he said.

Bedran Çiya stated that the model in Rojava offers a democratic structure where different peoples and beliefs live together, and this structure was directly shaped by the thoughts and philosophy of Öcalan.

“Our struggle is not only for the Kurds. It has also become a source of hope for all the people of Syria,” said Çiya, adding that the national unity developed in Rojava should be taken as an example for all Kurdish people. He emphasized that the role of the KNK is very important and historic, and that the decisions taken and discussions held at this congress are of concern to all Kurdish people.

Sultan Öger, on behalf of the Kurdish Women's Movement, evaluated Öcalan’s call and said that the political processes developing on the basis of this call and the changes in the Middle East are a historic turning point for the Kurds. Emphasizing that unity and collective action are indispensable to protecting the gains achieved by the Kurdish people thus far and securing their status, Sultan Öger said, “We must not miss this historic opportunity. Protecting the gains achieved in the four parts and utilizing new opportunities will only be possible through joint struggle and national unity.”

Sultan Öger said that the Kurdish people are more organized and powerful than ever before, and significant progress has been made in terms of women's organization. Highlighting the importance of commemorating the martyrs and assuming historical responsibility during this process, Sultan Öger underscored the historic role that the KNK congress will play in this context.

Hikmet Serbilind, Chairman of the Kurdistan Islamic Party, emphasized that the Kurdish people have achieved gains at great cost in their century-long struggle, and called for all parties and factions to act in unison to protect these gains and achieve national unity on this basis.

Due to visa issues, KNK delegates from Bashur, Rojava, and Russia participated in the congress via video conference and delivered speeches.

The speeches of the delegates and participants continue with suggestions and discussions.

The congress will continue with sessions tomorrow.

Open call to make 30 June 'Action Global Day for the Freedom of Abdullah Öcalan'.


ANF
NEWS DESK
Saturday, 24 May 2025

The 'Freedom for Öcalan Political Solution for Kurdistan' campaign and the Vigil for Öcalan issued an open call to make 30 June 'Action Global Day for the Freedom of Abdullah Öcalan'.

The call said: "The Kurdish Freedom Movement has taken huge steps with great effort and confidence in recent months. In the midst of the turmoil in the world and especially in the Middle East, Abdullah Öcalan has made proposals for a lasting peace that will affect the regional and international context for decades. The February 27th "Call for Peace and Democratic Society" laid the foundation for a democratic and political solution to the crisis the peoples of Kurdistan and the Middle-East are facing."

The call added: "These steps were welcomed by the entire movement and its allies around the world. With the declaration of the PKK's dissolution, a new phase of struggle based on democratic modernity and coexistence has begun. These historic steps open great opportunities for peace in times of war and must be reciprocated by the opposing sides, especially the Turkish government. Therefore, it is time for regional nation-states and international powers to acknowledge the deadlock and allow political solutions to replace terms like "security concerns" and "terrorism." However, they are practicing double standards by extending their hands while continuing to repress Bakur, push for further conflicts in Syria, and allow the war to unfold in the mountains of Kurdistan. Although Europe, especially Germany, welcomes the steps taken, it continues to repress individuals in the name of 'being part of a terrorist organization'."

The call continued: "Since February 27, attacks in Kurdistan have intensified in an attempt to provoke and sabotage Abdullah Öcalan's call and the courageous practical steps taken by the Kurdish Freedom Movement. Despite some political advances, Turkey is far from meeting the demands and requirements of this historical moment. In the last month alone, the Turkish army, backed by NATO, has bombed the free mountains of Kurdistan over 1,000 times and continues its illegal cross-border operations. Regarding Abdullah Öcalan's situation, the Turkish state maintains a calculated position on visits and communication to Imrali prison and is not taking any concrete steps for his release."

This call for action aims "at putting pressure on the Turkish state and the international powers. International solidarity should support this process and play a role in the ongoing negotiations, insisting that the demands for a just political solution and lasting peace are met. Abdullah Öcalan must be released. Solidarity actions must demonstrate that serious steps must be taken now!"

On 30 June, the organizers call "for action in the spirit of comradeship, solidarity, and commitment to the struggle for Öcalan's physical freedom. We are calling on our international friends, youth, academics, trade unions, women's organisations, students and all members of society to take action! Be creative in expressing your solidarity and stand up for the physical liberation of Abdullah Öcalan and a political solution in Kurdistan!

Despite all the steps taken, the ceasefire, the congress and the openness to develop a political solution, Turkey continues its policy of repression and attack. As in the worldwide actions against the use of chemical weapons in the Free Mountains of Kurdistanm, in the different actions against the invasions in Rojava Kurdistan and for the liberation of Öcalan and all political prisoners, internationalist solidarity plays an important role in creating awareness, great support and pressure against the constant attacks on the revolution."

Videos, photos and news of actions can be sent to ocalanactiondays@proton.me

For further information: https://ocalanvigil.net/

Twitter: @vigil4ocalan

Youtube: ocalanvigil

Conference in Athens: Öcalan's paradigm will be decisive in the fate of peoples in Syria

Speaking at “The Kurdish Question and Developments in the Middle East” conference in Athens, Assoc. Prof. Thomas Schmidinger said, “The paradigm of Abdullah Öcalan will be decisive in the fate of Alevis, Druze, and other communities in Syria."


MURAT BAKIR-HAKİ DERSİM
ATHENS
Saturday, 24 May 2025

The conference on “The Kurdish question and developments in the Middle East” continues in Athens. The conference is attended by PYD (Democratic Union Party) Co-Chair Xerîb Hiso, Îlham Ehmed, Co-Chair of the Department of Foreign Relations of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES), Sema Begdaş, Co-Chair of the PYD Diplomatic Relations Office, as well as numerous academics, politicians, and journalists.

Call for support for the Kurds

After the lunch break, former Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias delivered a speech.

Kotzias stated that all countries should support the Kurds, who are one of the few peoples in the Middle East who are not fanatical about religion.

“There are those who say that they want to help the Kurds, but Turkey will be upset by this. Turkey can be upset if it wants to. Everyone should help the Kurds because they are striving for democratic rule in the Middle East,” said Nikos Kotzias, calling on the Greek government to support the Kurds to the end.

The second session focused on discussions about the Democratic Autonomous Administration of Rojava and the regional influence of Abdullah Öcalan. The session was moderated by Loannis Albanis.

‘The Kurds have proven their existence in Syria’

Speaking at the session, Associate Professor Thomas Schmidinger from the University of Kurdistan Hewlêr stated that Kurds organized themselves in Rojava following the call made by Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan in 2012 and they have been the most influential force to date. He noted that the PYD has been involved in the revolution from the very beginning and is the most inclusive party with its Arab, Assyrian, and other components. He continued: "The Kurds have proven their existence in Syria with their historic resistance in Kobanê and the price they paid. The paradigm of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan will be decisive in the fate of Alevis, Druze, and other communities in Syria."

Journalist Stavros Lygeros pointed out that the Turkish state is pursuing a Neo-Ottomanist agenda that includes the Kurds: “The Turkish state's efforts to assimilate the Kurdish people have come to a definitive and irreversible end.”

Journalist Petros Papakonstantinou said that despite all the obstacles posed by the Turkish state, the Kurds have taken major steps forward in Syria.

Following the speeches, the second session came to an end.

‘Syria is facing the possibility of civil war and a major crisis’

Speaking after the break, Ilham Ehmed, Co-Chair of the Department of Foreign Relations of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, drew attention to the conflicts in Syria and said, "There has been a long war in Syria, and much blood has been shed. After the fall of the Baath regime, economic problems and pressure to convert women to radical Islam increased, and this issue has not been resolved. Syria is facing the possibility of civil war and a major crisis. Additionally, HTŞ is making decisions independently and not collaborating with the people."

Ehmed warned that the Syrian people will face the threat of jihadist groups and ISIS mercenaries in the coming days if government institutions are not reformed. She emphasized that Syria is made up of many peoples and faiths and cannot be reduced to a single language or a single faith. Ehmed also warned that insisting on centralizing power in Syria could lead to a major civil war and many communities may decide to act independently.

'The solution is the autonomous administration model'

Ilham Ahmed said that many countries have lifted sanctions on Syria but are waiting for a democratic and inclusive government to be formed in Syria. She drew attention to the increasing pressure on women by jihadist mercenaries, the gradual disregard for women's rights, and attempts to establish a new order, emphasizing that the solution to the problems across Syria lies in the autonomous administration model.

Referring to their talks with the Damascus regime, Ilham Ehmed emphasized that security, the economy, and the education system must be local. Stressing that a return to the Baath regime system is impossible and that an autonomous system is necessary, Ehmed stated that the threat of ISIS is still alive and that the most important force against this threat is the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Ilham Ehmed said that the process initiated by Abdullah Öcalan would affect them and the region. According to her, Öcalan’s views are vital and that the issue should be resolved at the negotiating table.

Finally, Ilham Ehmed pointed out that legal and democratic steps should be taken following the 12th PKK Congress and that the process should continue in accordance with the legal framework.

The final session of the conference will focus on regional powers and the Kurdish issue. Moderated by Sotiris Roussos, the session will feature Prof. Konstantinos Filis, Stavros Drakoularakos, Lecturer at the University of Nicosia, and Kamal Chomani, Academic at the University of Leipzig. The conference will conclude with a closing speech by Sema Begdaş, Co-Chair of the PYD Diplomatic Relations Office.

Hasan Kılıç: Abdullah Öcalan envisions a democratic future for the region

Hasan Kılıç said that Abdullah Öcalan's 27 February call reflects a far-sighted vision and described it as an effort to begin building a democratic future for the Middle East now.


ANF
NEWS DESK
Saturday, 24 May 2025

Following Abdullah Öcalan’s 27 February acll for Peace and a Democratic Society, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) held its 12th Congress on May 5–6 and declared that the Kurdish question had reached a point where it could now be resolved through democratic politics. In this regard, the PKK announced that it had fulfilled its historical mission. While concrete steps are expected from the Turkish state in response to these developments, recent statements have included calls for the parliament to assume its responsibility in this process.

What are the conditions shaping this entire process, the 27 February call and the PKK’s congress declaration? Within these evolving circumstances, what kind of political framework is Öcalan putting forward? Political scientist Dr. Hasan Kılıç spoke to ANF about the crisis of capitalist modernity and the collapse of the old order, emphasizing the significance of the framework outlined by Öcalan in this context of transformation.

You often argue in your writings that “the liberal order is collapsing” and examine global restructuring through this perspective. In light of this, how do you interpret the 27 February call for Peace and a Democratic Society, especially in terms of the Middle East, which stands at the center of this transformation?

For quite some time, even the central institutions of capitalist modernity have debated that the current form of the system is no longer sustainable, economically, geopolitically, in terms of moral values, and in the norms it has produced. The end of the unipolar world has been discussed for decades. Meanwhile, during the neoliberal phase of capitalism, the system increasingly relied on finance capital as the primary form of capital accumulation. This path began to break down with the 2008 crisis, indicating the need for a new economic-political equation. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Western hegemony imposed and enforced ‘liberal norms’ across the globe. However, the rise of populist leaders, political and economic gridlocks, and the fact that class-based crises led large segments of society to shift politically toward the right, all these developments revealed that those norms could no longer resolve conflicts or establish mutual legitimacy. At the same time, experts at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were declaring the post-World War II order to be collapsing, while the principle of ‘territorial sovereignty’, a cornerstone of that order, was rapidly losing its relevance.

In short, capitalist modernity is facing a multi-layered crisis, economic, political, cultural, and ethical, where each dimension feeds into the other. This crisis highlights the necessity of transformation in the existing world system. As a reflection of these crises, we are witnessing unprecedented levels of impoverishment and inequality in wealth distribution, the severe destruction of ecological systems, and a security-centered transformation of state structures. All these negative developments are affecting the lives of billions. Even the core institutions of capitalism have begun reporting that the current model is unsustainable and that it is paving the way for a perfect storm, a widespread rebellion of millions. This situation has triggered a global search for alternatives. For instance, discussions about a ‘Great Reset’ began at Davos, the symbolic temple of capitalism. NATO revised its strategic outlook. And in 2018, the United States (US), still the dominant global power, publicly stated that future wars would now occur between states.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the ‘liberal order’ has entered a deep and comprehensive crisis. Thus, Karl Marx’s famous assertion, “Force is the midwife of every old society pregnant with the new,” has once again come into play. In its search to establish a new order, capitalism has placed violence at the center.

When capitalist modernity deploys violence to create the new, it often turns the Middle East into a testing ground. What has been unfolding in the region since October 7 reflects a dual reality: the collapse of the old orders and the ignition of a struggle to shape the new. This reality has multiple dimensions.”

What are these dimensions?

First, the Assad regime, whose foundations trace back to the Cold War, has effectively been dismantled. This marks the end of a Cold War-oriented reading of the Middle East. Second, proxy forces are rapidly being eliminated, and some non-state actors are now being offered the option of integration into the system under the new order. In other words, as violence gives birth to the new, it simultaneously brings about serious risks and threats, but also major opportunities for all actors involved. The third dimension is that capitalist modernity aims to economically, politically, geopolitically, ethically, and culturally reshape the Middle East, using it as a testing ground for a model it hopes to export globally.

Looking back on history, we see clearly that the Middle East has always been a region where capitalism failed to take root. Confronting this reality leads to two options: either the peoples of the Middle East continue to wear a suit tailored by the forces of capitalist modernity, a suit that never fits, or they cut their own path and sever the umbilical cord themselves.

It is precisely at this crossroads that Mr. Öcalan’s 27 February call for Peace and a Democratic Society takes on its full meaning. The content of the call makes it clear that two world-historical phases, real socialism and the Cold War, have come to an end. Mr. Öcalan links the emergence and development of the PKK to these global historical conditions. In doing so, he indicates that with the disappearance of the conditions that gave rise to the PKK, a new phase has now begun. From its very first sentence, the call captures the spirit of the times and the depth of global and regional transformation with remarkable clarity. Mr. Öcalan recognizes that world-historical conditions have changed and that this shift calls for a bold response. In this context, he offers a new path and a new opening for the Middle East, Turkey, and the Kurdish people. To return to my earlier point, everyone in the Middle East today is navigating the future with some form of imagined option in hand. Mr. Öcalan, however, proposes a democratic communal future for the region. Among numerous visions, such as prolonging tensions in the name of Israel’s security, imposing a new order of exploitation and stabilization for Israel’s benefit, or reviving Neo-Ottomanist fantasies, his is a radically different and transformative alternative. He demonstrates both the reality and the courage of radically deconstructing everything that belongs to the old order. He shows that, if a democratic society is built through democratic consensus in Turkey and the broader Middle East, the peoples of the region can indeed sever their own umbilical cord and shape their destiny.

Ultimately, the 27 February call is not merely a response to the chaos of the present moment. It is the product of a mind that has calculated the global trajectory and its implications for the region with sharp foresight. It is a declaration that seeks not just to respond to crisis, but to begin constructing the future here and now. For this reason, describing it as ‘the Call of the Century’ is entirely appropriate.”

Following Mr. Öcalan’s call, the PKK announced its decision to dissolve itself. In many commentaries, it is emphasized that the fronts of a Third World War are expanding. In a time when war continues and many of the democratic rights gained after the Second World War are being rolled back, does this dissolution reflect the new global conditions?

If we think about whether there is a Third World War by relying on the imagery associated with the first two world wars, we are likely to be mistaken. Interpreting today’s world conflict through the visual and symbolic representations of past wars is not the right approach. That is because each world war had concrete economic, political, social, and cultural causes.

Today, we are experiencing a recession in the same economic-political, geopolitical, ethical, and moral structures that created the first two world wars. The displacement of hegemonic power, the multiple contradictions between competing global forces, the suspension of shared values that once held societies together, the spread of violence across nearly all regions of the world, the blockage in capital accumulation, and the dramatic rise in poverty and precariusness. These are all elements of our current reality. If we think of world wars not through images but through material conditions and cause-and-effect logic, then we clearly see that we are already living in a Third World War.

This war is not one that will be won solely through violence or its instruments. Violence is only one element of the Third World War and the order that is expected to follow it. It is not an irreplaceable or irreversible element.

To interpret the PKK’s dissolution decision solely through the lens of violence would be a serious oversight. Yes, this war has violent dimensions. But the struggle for the shape of the post-war order deserves a broader, deeper analysis. In this regard, the statement accompanying the dissolution includes a highly accurate observation: this is not an end, it is a new beginning.

The correct evaluation of current conditions suggests that the decision was made with the intention of taking part in the emerging global order, and within that order, to lead a revolutionary, democratic, and socialist struggle. What we are witnessing is a response to the present conjuncture and, at the same time, a forward-looking step that offers a perspective towards the future.”

Turkey has previously gone through a peace process. However, the conditions and context have changed. As we’ve already discussed, today’s realities present a different framework. In light of this, what is the current picture, at least in the near term, for the Kurds within this new reality, one that arguably transcends Turkey itself?

The earlier peace processes should not be seen as isolated episodes that ‘happened and ended.’ They must be viewed as part of a long-term political struggle, experiences and legacies that carry forward. The differences in context simply reflect the evolving global, regional, and national conditions. Today’s global search for a new order is generating new visions for how the Middle East should be reshaped. In this regard, Mr. Öcalan approaches the issue through four interrelated layers. At the first layer, the focus is on protecting the Kurdish people and guaranteeing their rights. The second involves democratizing Turkey. The third aims to establish an alternative democratic way of life in the Middle East. And the fourth envisions a globally resonant democratic socialist alternative. From the Kurdish perspective, the most foreseeable development in the near future is the end of a century-long imposed fate in the Middle East. It is a time for strengthening and advancing Kurdish gains, political, cultural, and social, and for positioning themselves as a reference point for democratic partnership in the region (and potentially the world) through alternative governance, economic models, gender liberation, and ecological approaches.

Turning our attention back to Turkey, we see that, unlike in previous peace processes, there is currently no significant opposition from the main opposition or other segments of society. However, one of the most current and sensitive points of debate has become the Treaty of Lausanne, which has been instrumentalized by certain political circles. How do you interpret the way this debate is being framed?

First of all, the norms, ethical codes, and moral values of the so-called ‘liberal order’ have lost their validity, which makes it difficult to understand the Peace and Democratic Society Process through the lens of global precedents. Some people describe it as a case of ‘peace first, then resolution,’ while others call it an ‘atypical process.’ These differing interpretations stem from this global transformation.

That said, there are several key aspects that distinguish this process from those in the past. First, due to global and regional developments, the process is receiving more international support than previous ones. This is because many actors are now committed to building a new global order, and doing so requires integrating both the Kurds and Turkey into their future visions. Second, the state appears more consolidated in its approach to resolving the issue compared to previous attempts. While there are still opposing forces both globally and within the state itself, the number of disruptive actors seems significantly lower. Third, the Kurdish freedom struggle has reached a new level. It has already dismantled the official denialist narrative. At one point, the dominant discourse shifted to: ‘Yes, Kurds exist, but they have no rights.’ That resistance was also overcome. Then came the position: ‘Kurds exist, but only individual rights can be granted, not collective ones.’ During that phase, efforts to foster right-wing tendencies among Kurds were encouraged, but even that point has been surpassed. Today, we are in a phase where collective Kurdish identity and collective rights are actively acknowledged and asserted.

It’s important not to lose sight of this accumulated reality when engaging with contemporary debates. The Lausanne debate, in this sense, is an attempt by opponents of the process to revive frozen historical fears in order to derail current progress. Their core strategy is to frame any critique of Lausanne as an attack on the republic or the state, and to use this manufactured perception to spread opposition to the process. But in reality, there is no rejection of the Treaty of Lausanne as a historical fact. Rather, what is being challenged is the anti-democratic and anti-Kurdish hostility produced by its consequences. The actual aim is to accept Lausanne as a historical truth, but to reshape its outcomes through democratization of the republic and transformation of the state into a more democratic entity.

And let us be clear: the opponents of this process are well aware of this reality. Their concern is not historical accuracy; their goal is to preserve their comfort within the existing order, to sustain Turkish supremacy and maintain colonial relationships as they are. So, while the surface-level debate may appear to be about Lausanne, the deeper issue is about resisting the continuation of colonialism and fighting for an equal, democratic life. It is a struggle between the maintenance of a singular, authoritarian regime and the realization of a democratic Turkey. It is a confrontation between the fantasy of re-colonizing the Kurds and the shared decolonization of both Kurds and Turks.

U.S. Native Tribes File Historic Lawsuit Over Federal Indian Boarding Schools

Hundreds marched in Minneapolis at the Boarding School Survivor and Victim Memorial March on Friday. (Photo/Darren Thompson for Native News Online.)

By Levi Rickert

       

May 23, 2025

Native News Online.

The Wichita and Affiliated Tribes and the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California have filed a groundbreaking 68- page lawsuit against the United States government, seeking justice for a long-overlooked tragedy: the creation and operation of the Federal Indian Boarding School Program.

The Tribes are represented by the law firms DiCello Levitt, Selendy Gay, Fields Han Cunniff, and Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky.

According to the lawsuit, the federal government used funds belonging to Native Nations to finance a widespread network of boarding schools designed to forcibly assimilate Native children. These institutions—operating across the United States—were modeled more like prisons than schools. Their aim was to remove children from their families and communities, strip them of their languages and traditions, and erase their cultural identities.

The complaint asks that a full accounting is made for the funds allocated to Indian boarding schools, which equate to some $23 billion in today's dollars, is made.

The complaint outlines decades of systemic abuse and trauma, including physical and sexual violence, forced labor, and the widespread loss of Native life, language, and cultural heritage. While these harms have long been known within Native communities, they were not officially documented by the U.S. government until recently.

In 2022 and 2024, under the leadership of then–Interior Secretary Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) and Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newlan (Bay Mills Indian Community) released two major reports following an extensive investigation into the Federal Indian Boarding School Program. These reports confirmed the U.S. government's direct involvement in the funding and operation of these institutions. Crucially, they revealed that much of the evidence surrounding this financing remains exclusively in the hands of the federal government.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, a jurisdiction that includes the site of one of the most infamous schools in the program: the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. The case seeks a full accounting of the funds used to support the boarding school system—money that was taken from tribal resources under the pretense of educating Native children.

This legal action marks a significant step toward truth, accountability, and healing. It challenges the federal government to confront its role in a program that caused generational trauma and calls for transparency regarding the misuse of Native resources.

As the complaint alleges:  

The United States Government, the trustee over Native children’s education…has  never accounted for the funds that it took, or detailed how, or even whether, those  funds were ultimately expended. It has failed to identify any funds that remain.  

The harm inflicted by the Boarding School Program endures in the broken families  and poor mental and physical health of survivors of the Boarding Schools and their  descendants. It endures in the cycles of poverty, desperation, domestic violence,  and addiction that were born of the Boarding School Program. It endures in the  silence of lost language and culture, and the quiet desperation of so many  survivors and their descendants, families that carry scars down through  generations. It endures in the missing remains and unmarked graves of the  children who died.  

The United States systematically sought to destroy Native children’s connections  to their families, homes, languages, and cultural and religious practices, which, in Native Nations’ communities, indoctrinated the children into servile positions, and  condemned Native Nations to cycles of poverty, violence, and drug addiction.

Beyond being a national disgrace, the Boarding School Program was an  undeniable violation of the United States’s longstanding, explicit, and ongoing  obligations (including, but not limited to, obligations guaranteed by treaty and  statute) as trustee tasked with providing Native children’s education.  

This trust duty was never disavowed and never ended, and the United States  continues to recognize its “responsibility for . . . education of Indian children,”1 based on a “unique and continuing trust relationship with and responsibility to the  Indian people for the education of Indian children.”2 The United States has a moral,  political, and legal responsibility to fully account for the Boarding School Program. 

"The Boarding School Program represents one of the most shameful chapters in American  history," Serrell Smokey, Chairman of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, said. "Our  children were taken from us, subjected to unimaginable horrors, and forced to fund their own  suffering. This lawsuit seeks to hold the U.S. Government accountable for its actions and to  ensure that the truth is finally brought to light."

"The Boarding School Program inflicted profound and lasting harm on our communities," Amber Silverhorn-Wolfe, President of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, said. "We are seeking justice  not only for the survivors but also for the generations that continue to suffer from the  intergenerational trauma caused by these schools." 

The case is Wichita and Affiliated Tribes v. Burgum and was filed in the United States District  Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. A copy of the complaint is available online here. 

About The Author

Levi Rickert
Levi "Calm Before the Storm" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net.

  European Court of Human Rights

Council of Europe rejects political pressure on ECHR in Meloni response

Copyright Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

By Fortunato Pinto

Published on 24/05/2025 - 

Council of Europe Secretary Alain Berset defends the independence of the European Court of Human Rights, emphasizing the importance of preserving its impartiality amid ongoing debates on migration.

"Debate is healthy, but politicising the Court is not. In a society governed by the rule of law, no judicial body should be subject to political pressure," Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset said in a statement on Saturday.

The Council of Europe's reply is in response to the letter that Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni's government signed together with eight other European countries calling for an amendment to the European Convention on Human Rights.

"On 22 May 2025, at the initiative of Denmark and Italy, nine member states of the Council of Europe - including Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland - published a joint letter calling for a 'new and open conversation' on how the European Court of Human Rights interprets the European Convention on Human Rights," writes Berset in the message.

"Their concern relates to judgments on migration. These are complex challenges and democracies must always remain open to reflection through the appropriate institutional channels. But clarity is essential,' Berset explains.

The secretary then states that the European Court of Human Rights is not an external body. It is the legal arm of the Council of Europe - created by the member states, established by sovereign choice and bound by a Convention that all 46 members have freely signed and ratified.

"It exists to protect the rights and values they have pledged to defend. The defence of the Court's independence and impartiality is our foundation," Berset adds.

"Debate is healthy, but politicising the Court is not. In a society governed by the rule of law, no judicial body should be subject to political pressure. Institutions that protect fundamental rights cannot bend to political cycles. "

"If they do, we risk eroding the stability that they themselves must guarantee,' the secretary writes: 'The Court must not be used as a weapon, neither against governments, nor by them'.

Berset then recalls that in 2025 the Convention will be 75 years old and that the Court has brought its principles to life, guiding European states through threats to judicial independence, political turmoil and even war.

"The European Court of Human Rights is the only international court that judges human rights violations in the context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. This should never be compromised," Berset adds.

"In facing today's complex challenges, our task is not to weaken the Convention, but to keep it strong and relevant - to ensure that freedom and security, justice and accountability, are kept in balance. This is the legacy we receive. And it is the duty we share,' the letter concludes.

REST IN POWER

Sebastião Salgado's Genesis: humanity and nature through the lens of a photographic giant

Sebastião Salgado died on Friday 23 May, 2025. 

Following the death of Sebastião Salgado, we look back at Genesis, the Franco-Brazilian's global exhibition that paid tribute to the planet by showcasing more than 200 of his stunning black and white photographs, the result of eight years work and some 30 trips around the world.



Copyright euronews

By Judith Prescott
Published on 24/05/2025

The famous Franco-Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado’s exhibition Genesis toured the world for more than six years - a sign of its popularity but also the impact of his incredible work.

Euronews Culture caught up with the photographer when the spectacular show was on display at La Sucrière de Lyon, a former sugar factory and warehouse that has now become an exhibition space.

Genesis is a photographic tribute to the planet comprising more than 200 black and white photographs. It was the result of eight years work and some 30 trips around the world.

Kafue National Park, Zambia. 2010

© Sebastião SALGADO / Amazonas images

Raised on a farm in Brazil, Salgado had a deep love and respect for nature. But he was also particularly sensitive to the ways in which human beings are affected by their often-devastating socio-economic conditions

He produced numerous works over a career spanning many decades, such as the long-term project Workers (1993) which documented the vanishing way of life of manual labourers across the world. Or Migrations (2000) - a tribute to mass migration driven by hunger, natural disasters, environmental degradation and demographic pressure. And then Genesis, his “love letter to the planet”.
Rediscovering mountains, deserts and oceans

The exhibition was the result of an epic eight-year expedition to rediscover mountains, deserts, oceans, and the animals and peoples that had, up to that point, escaped the imprint of modern society. It depicted the land and life of a still-pristine planet. The project, along with the Salgados’ Instituto Terra, are dedicated to showing the beauty of our planet, reversing the damage done to it, and preserving it for the future.

Mankind, he's an animal of this earth, an animal like any other, we're in the animal kingdom.

Sebastião Salgado

Salgado travelled by foot, light aircraft, seagoing vessels, canoes, and even balloons, through extreme heat and cold and in sometimes dangerous conditions to create a collection of images showing nature, animals, and indigenous peoples in breath-taking beauty.

Using only black-and-white photography, he created a visual ensemble with such an extreme precision, that even the smallest details seem to infinitely develop.

Marine iguana. Galapagos. Ecuador. 2004.

© Sebastião SALGADO / Amazonas images

"You know, when you look at an exhibition like Genesis, it's really the earth, the animals connected to the earth and also Man" explained Sebastião Salgado. "I'm still taking photographs of humankind. I've just finished seven years working in the Amazon with indigenous communities. Mankind, he's an animal of this earth, an animal like any other, we're in the animal kingdom."

Black and white photography has become the photographer's trademark. He explained why he decided not to use colour photography.

"In 1986, I did a story in Brazil which was published in 1987 about a gold mine there, it was because of this gold mine story that all magazines went back to doing black and white," he said.

"This story was so strong, it was widely published by large magazines, which increased my visibility to such an extent that at the time there was a big return to black and white photographs. I have much to be grateful for this return to black and white, because I've stayed in black and white ever since and never returned to colour."

Back to nature

If the environment is now on everybody’s radar, for Salgado, little has changed. He believes Mankind needs to go back to nature and make a spiritual return to the planet. He says efforts so far to save the planet have been resoundingly unsuccessful.

"We have COP 21 that took place in Paris five years ago and despite everything that was put forward, nothing was done," he says. "Do you know why? Because we don't invite real people, we don't invite people who are linked to the earth, to the planet, it's a meeting of urban people."

When the weather is particularly hostile, the Nenets and their flock can stay several days in the same place. North of the Ob. Arctic Circle, Yamal Peninsula. Siberia. Russia. 2011.© Sebastião SALGADO / Amazonas images

Iceberg between Paulet Island and the South Shetland Islands in the Weddell Sea. Antarctic Peninsula. 2005.© Sebastião SALGADO / Amazonas images

The Amazon remains his favorite territory. With his wife Leila, who is also the curator of 'Genesis, he took on a colossal challenge 20 years ago. He decided to replant the trees that had disappeared from the 750 hectares of his father’s former farm. He wanted to revive the ecosystem in a region hit by deforestation and intensive land use.

"We planted 2.5 million trees, even a little more maybe 2.7 million trees and we are now preparing to plant one million more trees, in addition to those already planted," he explains. "Because, you know, before the land was tired, dead, destroyed and now the land is rich again. It's time to plant trees that will be there for 500 years, 1,000 years, trees that need good soil, and shade to grow."

Mexican photographer Graciela Iturbide wins Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts 2025

Mexican photographer Graciela Iturbide will this year collect Spain's most prestigious honour, the Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts, consolidating her position as one of the most influential figures in contemporary Latin American photography.

Copyright Por Jacobo Caso - Trabajo propio, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=147709379

By Jesús Maturana
Published on 24/05/2025 

Born in Mexico City in 1942, Graciela Iturbide has for more than five decades developed a photographic oeuvre that transcends the boundaries of conventional art.

Her work is characterised by a deep sensitivity to ancestral cultures and an exceptional ability to capture the essence of communities in transition.

She conceives photography as a tool for cultural knowledge, exploration and research, creating images that reveal both the fragility and resilience of age-old traditions.

Her distinctive style, predominantly in black and white, succeeds in conveying the complex interaction between nature and culture, while exploring the symbolic dimension of landscapes and everyday objects transformed by her artistic gaze. This approach has made Iturbide an indispensable visual chronicler for understanding the socio-cultural evolution of Mexico and Latin America.

Iconic work and international recognition

Among Graciela Iturbide's most renowned works is her extraordinary 1979 photographic record of the Seri Indians of the Sonoran Desert, a series that exemplifies her ability to document cultures at risk of disappearing with respect and artistic depth. Equally celebrated is her series on Frida Kahlo's bathroom in Coyoacán, where she captures the intimacy and symbolism of the iconic Mexican painter's personal space.

Her work has transcended geographical boundaries, portraying not only indigenous peoples in Mexico, but also communities in Panama, Madagascar and Cuba. This geographic breadth demonstrates her commitment to the visual preservation of diverse cultures and her ability to find commonalities in the human experience.

Work by Graciela Iturbide Fundaciónmapfre.org

Her work has been recognised and rewarded around the world in prestigious exhibitions such as the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, London's Barbican Art Gallery, the Hokkaido Museum of Photography in Japan and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. These exhibitions have positioned her work in the canon of fine art photography worldwide.
Princess of Asturias for the Arts: tradition and prestige

Iturbide's selection represents royal recognition of photography as an artistic discipline and specifically the social and cultural documentation that characterises her oeuvre.

It also underlines the growing importance of Latin American photography in the global art scene.

Iturbide's award is the fourth in the XLV edition of the Princess of Asturias Awards.** Previously, the Communication and Humanities Award went to the South Korean-born German philosopher Byung-Chul Han, the Literature Award to the Barcelona writer Eduardo Mendoza, and the Social Sciences Award to the American sociologist and demographer Douglas Massey.

Over the next three weeks, the remaining categories will be awarded: Sports on 28 May, Concordia on 4 June, Scientific and Technical Research on 12 June, and International Cooperation on 18 June.

 

Cannes awards its Palme d'Or trophy to Iranian revenge drama 'It Was Just an Accident'

Copyright Natacha Pisarenko/2025 Invision

By Euronews with AP

Published on 24/05/2025 -

Iranian dissident filmmaker Jafar Panahi’s revenge thriller “IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT" won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday, handing the festival's top prize to a director who had been banned from leaving Iran for more than 15 years.

Cannes has awarded its top prize, the Palme d'Or, to the Iranian revenge drama It Was Just an Accident.

The win continues an extraordinary run for indie distributor Neon, which has now backed the last six Palme d'Or winners. Neon picked up It Was Just an Accident for North American distribution after its Cannes premiere, following earlier wins with Parasite, Titane, Triangle of Sadness, Anatomy of a Fall, and Anora.

Cate Blanchett presented the award to Panahi, who was imprisoned in Iran three years ago and went on a hunger strike. For over 15 years, he has made films in secret in his home country, including This Is Not a Film, shot in his living room, and Taxi, set entirely in a car.

The audience gave him a loud standing ovation. Panahi threw up his arms and leaned back in disbelief, then applauded his team and those around him. On stage, he was welcomed with cheers by Cannes jury president Juliette Binoche, who had once held up his name at the festival in 2010 while he was under house arrest.

As Panahi took to the stage he said what mattered most was freedom in his country.

“Let us join forces,” said Panahi. “No one should dare tell us what kind of clothes we should wear, what we should do or what we should not do. The cinema is a society. Nobody is entitled to tell what we should or refrain from doing.”

“Let’s continue to hope,” he concluded.

Despite Panahi's cry for freedom, he has said life in exile is not for him. He planned to fly home to Tehran on Sunday.

The festival’s closing ceremony came shortly after a major power outage hit southeastern France on Saturday, which police believe may have been caused by arson. Power was restored in Cannes just hours before stars began arriving on the red carpet.