A government-backed push to support the dissolution of PKK is has entered a critical phase as parliament is set to begin reviewing a draft law that would establish the legal framework for the process on Aug. 7.
Submitted to parliament on Aug. 5, the framework bill is expected to be discussed first by a relevant commission on Aug. 7 before being brought to the General Assembly, with lawmakers aiming to complete its passage over the weekend.
The proposal establishes the legal framework for the “terror-free Türkiye” initiative and introduces conditional changes to criminal and enforcement law. Its general justification states that the regulation represents the “basic framework forming the first step” of legal measures within the process, while stressing that it does not constitute a general amnesty.
Instead, the bill proposes limited and conditional legal arrangements covering crimes linked to membership, management or assistance of PKK, propaganda on behalf of the terror group and other offenses committed as part of organizational activities.
It also includes crimes covered by the Law on the Prevention of Financing Terrorism when they were allegedly committed in favor of the PKK.
The implementation of the law would depend on security institutions determining that PKK and affiliated formations have ceased their activities and surrendered all weapons and ammunition. The assessment would then need to be confirmed by a decision of the National Security Council (MGK) and published in the Official Gazette.
Until that condition is fulfilled, provisions allowing investigations to be postponed or sentences to be suspended would not apply.
The bill excludes intentional homicide committed as part of organizational activities, as well as crimes committed before June 1, 2005, carrying aggravated life imprisonment or life imprisonment.
However, the proposal does not explicitly mention PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan.
The bill also establishes oversight mechanisms to monitor the process. A coordination board chaired by the vice president would include the ministers of justice, foreign affairs, interior and national defense, the secretary-generals of the presidency and the National Security Council (MGK) and head of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT).
The board would monitor implementation of the law, form subcommittees if needed and recommend judicial, administrative, or legislative measures.
A separate 17-member monitoring commission would be established under the parliament speaker to oversee implementation and submit recommendations.
The proposal also allows for the possible removal of political restrictions and other rights deprivations resulting from convictions, including bans on holding public office or being elected. Such requests would be evaluated by courts following applications from the coordination board.
Those seeking to benefit from the regulation would have six months to apply after the MGK decision confirming the conditions is published in the Official Gazette.
Under the proposal, investigations and prosecutions involving crimes punishable by up to 15 years in prison could be postponed for five years. Cases involving sentences exceeding 15 years, life imprisonment or aggravated life imprisonment could be postponed for 10 years.
The initiative has received mixed reactions from political parties. The İYİ (Good) Party remains the only major parliamentary group to reject the process outright, while the main opposition New Party supports the goal of ending terrorism but has criticized the government’s handling of the initiative.
