THE PKK IN EUROPE – FREEDOM FIGHTERS OR TERRORISTS?
Europe has an ambivalent relationship with the PKK, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, officially a banned terrorist organisation, but unofficially recognised as an ally in the fight against ISIS. How should the EU position itself in future?
The PKK is on both the EU and US terrorist lists. But the Kurdistan Workers’ Party is also an important ally in the fight against ISIS and has successfully driven the terrorist militia out of Kurdish settlements. Where does the PKK stand in Europe today? The relevant authorities struggle to take a clear stance. The PKK is repeatedly accused of radicalising and recruiting young people. Kurdish parents from Germany and France, whose children have joined the PKK and cut off contact, fear their sons and daughters will be deployed in active combat. But the PKK gives many young Kurds a sense of belonging, promising to protect the Kurdish language and culture.The film examines these contrasting perspectives. We meet investigators and high-ranking PKK representatives, experts, insiders and former members, who offer us nuanced insights into the organisation’s methods and structures. The film explores the organisation’s use of violence, analyses the geopolitical landscape and examines the PKK’s role in Europe. It also asks how Germany, France and the EU should position themselves. Is the PKK now a friend or a foe? A freedom fighter or terrorist? The film takes stock of a complex situation.