Türkiye’s parliament on Monday approved a key piece of legislation underpinning the government’s effort to end decades of conflict with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), moving the so-called Terror-Free Türkiye initiative closer to implementation.
The Bill on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Cohesion passed after around 12 hours of debate, with 468 lawmakers voting in favour, 88 against and six abstentions.
The legislation sets out what will happen to legal cases linked to the PKK and Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) and affiliated groups if authorities determine that they have ended their armed activities and surrendered their weapons.
It allows for the suspension of investigations, prosecutions, convictions and other related proceedings. It also covers offences including membership of, aiding or promoting the terrorist organisation, crimes committed as part of its activities and terrorism-financing offences carried out in its favour.
The scale of the vote was highlighted by senior Turkish officials as a sign of broad political backing for the initiative.
Parliamentary Speaker Numan Kurtulmus said the move should be seen as an achievement for the country as a whole rather than any single political party.
“This achievement belongs not only to one political party but to Türkiye as a whole. We will follow the process carefully and meticulously. As a nation, we will demonstrate that we have embraced this process," Kurtulmus said.
He said the process would now move forward smoothly and called on Turks to embrace the parliamentary decision.
Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz also pointed to the size of the majority, saying the amount of votes in favour were significant for political consensus and public support.
“The 468 votes in favour of the ‘Terror-Free Türkiye’ process law are extremely important and valuable in terms of political consensus and broad public support," Yilmaz said.
Yilmaz said the initiative had been built through the work of state institutions and a shared understanding, while stressing that Türkiye’s principles and national values had remained unchanged.
“The goal of a ‘Terror-Free Türkiye’ has been developed through the dedicated efforts of our institutions and a common understanding. The principles of our state and the values of our nation have never been compromised," Yilmaz added.
U.S. forces have struck three Iranian oil tankers after Iran launched ballistic missiles at two Navy ships, according to U.S. Central Command. ...
Russian President Vladimir Putin held more than three hours of talks with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow on efforts to end t...
U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told reporters on Saturday that there is no plan underway to force Palestinians out of Gaza, following Isra...
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Russia then Ukraine over the weekend, Russian state news agency TASS has reported, citing an unnamed source. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also said American envoys will visit the capitals of both countries.
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Moscow for peace talks on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, two people familiar with the matter said. They were met by Russian Presidential Envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 4th of September, covering the latest developments.
U.S. efforts to squeeze Iran’s economy through an oil blockade and sanctions are becoming increasingly difficult for Tehran to withstand, according to three senior Iranian sources. Washington is escalating pressure in hopes of securing concessions in future negotiations.
An Iranian tanker was hit by U.S. forces on Saturday near Iran's key oil export hub, Kharg Island, in the Gulf, the semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim reported.
Russian President Vladimir Putin held more than three hours of talks with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow on efforts to end the Ukraine war.
U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told reporters on Saturday that there is no plan underway to force Palestinians out of Gaza, following Israel's government proposal on relocation plans for people in Gaza.
A Chinese national was pulled alive from a tunnel in Nepal on Saturday, authorities said, 10 days after a wall of ice, rock and mud tore through a Himalayan valley, killing more than 1,300 people and leaving more than 5,600 missing.
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Moscow for peace talks on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, two people familiar with the matter said. They were met by Russian Presidential Envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
Spanish authorities are preparing a new site in Ceuta to accommodate hundreds of migrants who remain on the streets following large-scale arrivals in July, local media reported Saturday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment