UK Counter-Terrorism Operation Against PKK Sparks Tensions in the British-Kurdish Community
Alex Blackburn | 5 December 2024
Summary
UK police arrested seven suspected Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) members and raided eight sites, including a key Kurdish community centre in London.
The PKK, banned as a terrorist group in the UK, remains central to Kurdish autonomy efforts and is involved in conflicts in Syria.
The raids sparked a backlash from Kurdish groups, raising concerns about UK counter-terrorism and ties with Türkiye.
On 27th November, British counter-terrorism police launched a high-profile operation targeting seven suspected Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) members. Under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000, British police forces executed the coordinated searches of eight locations across the British capital, most notably the Kurdish Community Centre in Haringey, North London, which serves as a focal point for the Kurdish diaspora and houses the Kurdish People’s Assembly.
PKK, a separatist group advocating for an independent Kurdish state in South-Eastern Türkiye, has been a central figure in one of the longest-running conflicts in modern history. Since its establishment in 1978, the PKK has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state, seeking greater autonomy and rights for Kurds, who have long faced systemic discrimination in Türkiye. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people, primarily in southeastern Türkiye, and has displaced millions. While the PKK is considered a terrorist organisation by Türkiye, the United States and the European Union, its role in combating ISIS in Syria and the increased exposure of Turkish actions against the Kurdish population has led some to view the group and its affiliates as complex actors in a broader geopolitical struggle.
The arrests and accompanying raids have exacerbated tensions between the Kurdish community in the UK and law enforcement. Advocacy groups, including the Kurdish People’s Assembly and Day-Mer, condemned the operation calling it an affront to democracy, justice and human rights. Ishak Milani, co-chair of the Kurdish People’s Assembly, accused authorities of targeting Kurdish activists and community spaces unjustly. Milani also pointed to a pattern of similar police actions, including a raid on the same community centre nearly a year ago, further fueling distrust.
These actions have raised questions about the UK’s approach to counter-terrorism and its impact on minority communities. While the government may view this approach as essential to its national security strategy, it has sparked widespread discontent among Kurdish communities, who perceive them as politically motivated and unfairly targeting their activism. Addressing these grievances will be crucial to preventing long-term unrest and rebuilding trust with Kurdish-British MP Feryal Clark already voicing her concerns, stating she has raised the issue with ministers and local authorities.
Furthermore, these events also highlight the broader dynamics of Türkiye’s campaign against the PKK and its influence on Western allies. Türkiye has long lobbied its partners, including the UK, to adopt a hardline stance on the PKK, framing it as a critical security threat. For the UK, aligning its counter-terrorism efforts with Türkiye’s priorities may strengthen bilateral relations, particularly given Türkiye’s strategic importance as a NATO ally. However, such actions risk alienating the UK’s Kurdish diaspora, a politically active and culturally significant community. Additionally, accusations that the UK is enabling Ankara’s suppression of Kurdish political expression could strain domestic social cohesion and fuel broader perceptions of injustice.
John Englart/Flickr
Forecast
Short-term
There are likely to be few direct consequences for the British government, aside from a greater mistrust of the British authorities from the Kurdish community. However, there will likely be raised questions about the transparency and politicisation of British policing.
Long-term
These actions may strengthen bilateral relations between the UK and Türkiye, ensuring the strategic and military benefits of Türkiye’s geopolitical position remain more aligned towards NATO over Russia. However, such actions could fuel perceptions that the UK is complicit in suppressing Kurdish political expression, potentially straining domestic social cohesion and undermining its reputation as a defender of democratic principles on the global stage.