By Hidir Goktas - Reuters

ANKARA – The head of Turkey’s largest pro-Kurdish party, which faces a possible ban in a court case on charges of links with separatist rebels, said ending discrimination against Kurds was the only way to bring peace.

Ahmet Turk, head of the Democratic Society Party (DTP), said Turkey should grant more rights to minority Kurds to undermine popular support for outlawed PKK rebels.

“The government should make clear its intention to solve (the Kurdish problem) through democratic methods. We are saying that you cannot solve this problem in the next five, 10 years using weapons, bombs,” Turk told Reuters in an interview.

Weakened by Turkish military air strikes in northern Iraq, separatist Kurdish guerrillas have stepped up bomb attacks in Turkey’s cities. Officials have blamed the violence on the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

“If Kurds are not tolerated with democratic politics, these people will feel excluded and segregated,” Turk said.

Turkey’s Kurds have long complained of discrimination and DTP leaders are pressing for autonomy in Turkey’s mostly Kurdish southeastern region, including allowing public schools to teach in the Kurdish language.

Turk urged the Constitutional Court not to shut down his party, which holds several cities in southeastern Turkey.

“The view I want to see is a DTP which is not closed, a DTP which maintains its quest for reconciliation and dialogue.”

The DTP will give its final testimony in the closure case on September 16. The top prosecutor wants political bans for eight DTP deputies.

Turkish courts have closed several pro-Kurdish parties, accused of having links with the PKK.

The Constitutional Court last month narrowly voted against closing the ruling AK Party for Islamist activities and instead fined it for undermining the country’s secular principles.

Turk said closing the DTP party would kill off Kurdish hopes for change within democracy. He also called on the PKK to disarm.