Kurdistan Workers' Party

Also known as: Partiya Karkerên Kurdistanê, PKK
Based in TurkeyDefunct1978-2025SourcesKurdistan Workers' Party

Kurdish militant political organization and armed guerrilla group primarily based in southeastern Turkey, northern Iraq, and northeastern Syria. Founded on 27 November 1978 by Abdullah Öcalan, initially seeking an independent Kurdish state but later shifting to autonomy and cultural rights within Turkey. Designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, EU, and others. In March 2025, declared a ceasefire and announced plans for dissolution.

CRIMENET has extracted 125 linkages for this organization, including 68 cooperative ties across 29 organizations, 29 conflicts across 8 organizations, 28 other connections and footprints in 10 countries.

Trace a connection

FromKurdistan Workers' Party

Footprint abroad 10

1
BelgiumPresence
The PKK had a political training camp in Belgium.
Sources: Kurdistan Workers' Party
2
FrancePresence
The PKK's cultural activities spread over Kurdish community centers in France.
Sources: Kurdistan Workers' Party
3
GermanyPresence
The PKK established the Association of Artists (Hunerkom) in Germany and has a presence in mosques there.
Sources: Kurdistan Workers' Party
4
GreecePresence
Greece supported the PKK with arms, training, and a camp in Lavrion.
Sources: Kurdistan Workers' Party
5
IranPresence
The PKK has training camps in Iran and Kurdish organisations in Iranian Kurdistan.
Sources: Kurdistan Workers' Party
6
IraqPresence
The PKK is primarily based in northern Iraq and has training camps and a permanent enclave there.
Sources: Kurdistan Workers' Party
7
IsraelOperations
The PKK was involved in the Israel–PKK conflict and the 1982 Lebanon War.
Sources: Kurdistan Workers' Party
8
LebanonPresence
The PKK had training camps in Lebanon.
Sources: Kurdistan Workers' Party
9
NetherlandsPresence
The PKK's cultural activities spread over Kurdish community centers in the Netherlands.
Sources: Kurdistan Workers' Party
10
SyriaPresence
The PKK is primarily based in north-eastern Syria and had training camps there.
Sources: Kurdistan Workers' Party