Kurdish MPs have sent condolence messages to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan following the death of his mother in what was seen as a small step toward easing tensions between the two, observers say.

Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) MPs Ahmet Turk and Salahettin Demirtas sent Erdogan their condolences following the death of his mother, Tanzila Erdogan, who passed away in Istanbul on October 7.

Long-standing tensions between the AKP and BDP grew worse with the arrest of several BDP members earlier this year and attacks by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the Turkish military. Erdogan has taken a hard line against the PKK and the BDP, which recently ended its four-month-long boycott of Parliament.

Independent Kurdish politician Salahattin Kaya asserted that the sad occasion could help the Turkish government and Kurdish MPs tone down their criticism of each other.

“Recently the BDP and the Development and Justice Party (AKP) have been exchanging strong words against each other and have diverged a great deal lately. I believe both sides have decided to tone down the disagreements between them due to the funeral, and the message of the two Kurdish leaders was a positive one,” said Kaya.

However, Kaya cautioned that relations between the two parties could be more tumultuous “because the AKP is not yet convinced that it should meet the BDP’s demands,” he said. “We need more time for that. And if the demands of BDP are not met, then it will take a tougher stance.”

Fahim Isik, a Kurdish politician said there was a political message behind the condolences of Demirtas and Turk.

“Within the condolences we see a political message which is that if humans want, they can reduce unnecessary deaths, so if Erdogan wanted he could reduce the death of young people. The Kurdish leaders wanted to convey such a message,” Isik said.

However, Ibrahim Binci, an MP from BDP, rejected the idea the Kurdish condolences to the prime minister had any political connotations.

“The condolences sent by the Kurds were humane and needs to be interpreted as such, but Kurdish youth are being crushed by the prime minister’s tanks and no one sends them condolences,” said Binci. “It is too early to talk about the impact of our message on the relations between the two parties.”

Galip Ansarioglu, a Kurdish member of the AKP, said the condolences from the Kurdish leaders were a good step, but he does not think it will improve the relationship between the parties.

“Taking part in a funeral is a different thing. If BDP seeks to resolve the Kurdish issues then it should side with AKP. By arguing and forming different fronts against AKP, they will not achieve anything. The only party that cares about the Kurdish issue is the AKP,” said Ansarioglu.