The Democratic Society Congress (DTK), a forum that brings together Kurdish non-government organizations, met and declared “democratic autonomy” within Turkey's territorial integrity in Diyarbakır on Thursday, reports Today’s Zaman.

Pro-Kurdish independent deputy Aysel Tuğluk told reporters in a declaration after a six-hour meeting of the DTK on Thursday that the Kurdish people had declared democratic autonomy while remaining loyal to the national unity of Turkey, respecting the country's territorial integrity and basing their move on democratic national principles.

She also referenced international human rights documents that allowed them to do so.

Tuğluk stated that the solution to the Kurdish problem could only be solved if Kurds are recognized as a distinct group but with equal status. The Kurdish deputy also called on the international community to recognize the democratic autonomy her congress had declared.

The Diyarbakır Prosecutor's Office on Friday launched an investigation into the announcement of the group. The office has reportedly begun examining the final declaration announced after the DTK meeting on Thursday.

The DTK, which describes itself as a local organization of Kurds in eastern Turkey comprising intellectuals, representatives from civil society organizations, pro-Kurdish politicians and some members of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), presented the first comprehensive draft of its “Democratic Autonomous Kurdistan Model” at a conference in Diyarbakır in December of last year.