Türkiye's ruling alliance has submitted draft legislation to parliament aimed at advancing the peace process with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The proposed law includes legal protections for many former militants and suspended prison sentences for some convicted members.
The bill, introduced on Wednesday, is intended to support the implementation of the PKK's decision to disarm and dissolve, marking one of the most significant steps towards ending a conflict that has claimed more than 40,000 lives since 1984.
If approved, the legislation would facilitate the return of potentially thousands of former PKK members and civilians from northern Iraq to Türkiye.
Under the proposal, Türkiye's National Security Council would verify the PKK's disarmament, while a committee comprising the vice president, cabinet ministers and the head of the National Intelligence Organisation (MİT) would oversee the surrender and disarmament process.
The committee would regularly brief a parliamentary commission on developments.
The draft law would suspend prison sentences for individuals convicted of PKK membership or assisting the group. It would also provide legal protection from prosecution for former militants who were not involved in killings and who return to Türkiye within six months of the law taking effect.
However, senior PKK figures convicted of serious offences, including leading a terrorist organisation or serving aggravated life sentences imposed before 2005, would be excluded from the measures.
That means jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, who has been serving an aggravated life sentence since 1999, would remain in prison despite his call last year for the group to disarm and disband.
The legislation is backed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's ruling AK Party, its nationalist ally MHP and the pro-Kurdish DEM Party. Most opposition parties, including the main opposition party, have also expressed support, making parliamentary approval likely later this week.
"Today we are taking the first step. Hopefully, we will continue all the way through in a positive manner," DEM Party co-chair Tuncer Bakırhan said.
The peace process began in late 2024 but slowed earlier this year amid regional instability linked to the Iran conflict.
The PKK is designated a terrorist organisation by Türkiye, the U.S. and the European Union. It launched an armed insurgency in 1984, initially seeking an independent Kurdish state before shifting its focus to greater autonomy and political rights for Kurds within Türkiye.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told allied foreign ministers Washington will focus on sanctions and other pressure on Iran “for the time bein...
Kazakhstan is considering the Baku-Supsa pipeline as an alternative oil export route after Caspian Pipeline Consortium disruptions cost the country...
Kuwait’s Al-Sayer Group plans to export fresh and dried Afghan fruit to Kuwait and other markets while exploring broader trade and investment...
Oil prices fell after the U.S. expanded economic sanctions on Iran, as Tehran vowed to retaliate and warned it had tools to respond, raising concerns over potential disruption to regional oil supplies.
Kyiv has recently received a small number of U.S.-made Patriot interceptors capable of downing Russian ballistic missiles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said. It comes as Britain and France pledged stronger military support for Ukraine.
Only four commodity vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, following 13 transits a day earlier, as disruptions continue to restrict traffic through the key energy chokepoint.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told allied foreign ministers Washington will focus on sanctions and other pressure on Iran “for the time being”, Axios reports. Meanwhile, Iran and Oman have resumed talks on a temporary shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz.
Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 10 prisoners of war each in Belarus, Moscow's Human Rights Commissioner, Yana Lantratova, has said.
Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 10 prisoners of war each in Belarus, Moscow's Human Rights Commissioner, Yana Lantratova, has said.
Meta Platforms has agreed to pay up to $16.68 billion and make sweeping changes to Facebook and Instagram to settle claims that its platforms put children and teenagers at risk.
At least nine people have been killed and hundreds of tourists are missing after a massive landslide triggered catastrophic flooding near Nepal’s Himalayan border with China’s Tibet region.
Instagram Chief Adam Mosseri has acknowledged that few teenagers used Instagram’s “Take a Break” feature before it became a default setting, as Meta faces a major U.S. trial over child safety.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 26th of August, covering the latest developments.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment