Karayilan Says Broader PKK Death Toll Nears 50,000
At a Glance
Murat Karayilan says the group will announce the names of 157 more people killed in fighting with the Turkish military.
He said their names had not been announced earlier because of wartime conditions.
The individuals reportedly came from different parts of Kurdistan, including Rojhelat, Shingal and the Kurdistan Region.
Karayilan estimated that the total number of people killed since the PKK emerged could approach 50,000, including fighters, volunteers, supporters and civilians.
Murat Karayilan, a member of the Command Council of the People's Defense Center (HSM), says the group will announce the names of 157 more people killed in fighting with the Turkish military in the coming weeks.
Key Statements and Focus Areas
Announcement of 157 Names
In a video message, Karayilan said the group would soon publish the names of 157 people whose deaths had not been announced at the time because of wartime circumstances.
He said they came from different parts of Kurdistan, including:
Rojhelat: 78 people
Shingal: 8 people
Kurdistan Region: 21 people
The figures listed above account for 107 of the 157 people. The report does not specify the origins of the remaining 50.
Estimated Death Toll
Karayilan said the overall number of people killed since the PKK emerged could approach 50,000 when fighters, guerrillas, volunteers, supporters and civilians are included.
"If fighters, guerrillas, volunteers, patriots and civilians are counted, the number of people killed throughout the history of the PKK reaches 50,000."
The figure is Karayilan's estimate and has not been independently verified in the supplied report.
The Council plans to announce the names of 157 additional people who died during its conflict with the Turkish military, according to Murat Karayilan, a member of the group's central command.
Karayilan said the names had not been disclosed earlier because of wartime conditions. He identified 78 people from Rojhelat, eight from Shingal and 21 from the Kurdistan Region, while the statement did not specify the origins of the remaining 50.
Karayilan previously cited a figure of around 27,000 people killed since the PKK emerged. His latest estimate approaches 50,000 when fighters, volunteers, supporters and civilians are included. The two figures appear to use different counting categories and should not be treated as directly comparable.
The announcement comes amid the PKK's declared shift away from armed struggle and toward a political process with Turkey. The group's next steps and the Turkish government's response remain important factors in determining whether the process advances.
FYI
The planned announcement comes during a sensitive phase in the peace process between the PKK and Turkey. Publicly identifying people killed during the conflict may carry significance for families seeking recognition and for the broader political debate over the conflict's legacy.
Karayilan's estimate of nearly 50,000 includes fighters, volunteers, supporters and civilians, according to his statement. The earlier figure of around 27,000 appears to reflect a different counting basis. Neither figure should be presented as an independently verified total.
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