In a symbolic ceremony held Friday in northern Iraq, fighters from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) began the group’s long-promised disarmament, marking the most concrete step yet in a renewed peace process aimed at ending four decades of violent insurgency in Turkey.

The event, which took place in the mountains of Sulaymaniyah province within Iraq’s Kurdish region, featured PKK fighters, both men and women, casting their rifles and machine guns into a large cauldron and setting them on fire, a visual gesture underscoring their pledge to abandon armed conflict.

The PKK, designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, has waged an armed campaign since 1984, initially seeking an independent Kurdish state before shifting toward demands for autonomy and Kurdish rights within Turkey. Tens of thousands have died in the conflict, which has spilled over into Iraq and Syria, where PKK-linked groups have established a significant presence.

The disarmament follows a directive by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, imprisoned in Turkey since 1999, who in February called on the group to disband and embrace democratic politics. Öcalan reiterated his stance in a video message this week, emphasizing “the power of politics and social peace.” The fighters involved in Friday’s event echoed his sentiments, saying in a statement that they now intend to continue their struggle “through democratic politics and legal means.”

Iraq’s state-run news agency reported that 30 fighters laid down their arms in this initial stage, with the full disarmament expected by September. Turkish officials, while cautiously optimistic, stressed that the road ahead remains long, noting the importance of ensuring weapons are never used again.

Turkish leaders welcomed the move. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the ceremony an “important step” toward a terrorism-free Turkey, and nationalist ally Devlet Bahceli, who launched the peace initiative, described the development as signaling the end of a dark era.

Still, Kurdish leaders and activists warned that the process must be mutual and include reforms from Turkey, such as easing Öcalan’s prison conditions and integrating Kurds into the political system. Many displaced Kurdish Iraqis, still living in refugee camps, expressed cautious hope for return and reconciliation.