At a Glance

• Justice Committee approves 12-article draft
• Parliament vote expected within 48 hours
• Trials may be deferred up to 10 years
• Dual bodies to oversee implementation

The Turkish Parliament's Justice Committee has approved a 12-article draft law aimed at formalizing the PKK's disarmament and establishing a legal framework for the return of its members, with the bill expected to reach the parliamentary floor within the next 48 hours.

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Key Statements and Focus Area

• Meral Dani Bestas said the bill offers an opportunity for permanent peace.
• Idris Sahin said parliament is the sole arena for resolving the PKK issue, while arguing that further reassuring steps are needed.

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The Justice Committee of the Turkish Parliament has approved a 12-article draft law formally titled the Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration.

The legislation is designed to establish procedures for verifying the end of the PKK's armed presence and create a legal framework for disarmament and the return of its members.

The draft reportedly passed the committee stage within 18 hours and is expected to be presented to the parliamentary floor for a vote within the next 48 hours.

Under the draft, the National Security Council (MGK) would have the authority to verify the complete end of the PKK and KCK's armed activities, including the surrender of weapons and ammunition.

A High Council chaired by the Turkish Vice President would oversee the implementation process, alongside a 17-member parliamentary committee.

The proposed framework would establish procedures for monitoring the disarmament process and confirming compliance with the law.

The draft provides legal mechanisms to defer trials and sentences for eligible individuals who were not involved in premeditated murder.

Depending on the sentence, deferment periods would range from five to 10 years.

Individuals seeking to benefit from the provisions would be required to submit a formal application within six months of the law's publication in the Official Gazette.

DEM Party lawmaker Meral Danıs Bestas said the draft creates an opportunity for permanent peace and stated that her party would seek cooperation with other political groups to address shortcomings in the legislation.

Meanwhile, Justice Committee member Idris Sahin said parliament is the sole arena for resolving the PKK issue, while arguing that the necessary confidence-building steps have yet to be taken.

The draft follows an initiative launched in late 2024 after MHP leader Devlet Bahceli publicly called for the PKK to disarm.

The proposed legislation seeks to provide a legal framework for ending the armed conflict while creating mechanisms for the reintegration of eligible individuals and expanding political participation.

FYI

FYI

The current legislative process follows a series of developments that began with a February 2025 directive from imprisoned PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan calling for the group to lay down its weapons. The PKK subsequently declared its disbandment in May 2025 and, by July 2025, began withdrawing from frontlines and held a symbolic disarmament ceremony in northern Iraq.

The proposed Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration, known as the Framework Law, is a 12-article bill submitted to the Turkish Parliament with the backing of a broad coalition of 360 lawmakers. It is designed to establish the legal and judicial framework for the permanent dissolution of the PKK and the reintegration of eligible, lower-ranking members into civilian life.

The legislation makes the complete dissolution of the organization a prerequisite for eligible participants to benefit from reintegration measures. During drafting, the government reportedly limited the use of the term "terror" to the first two articles, with subsequent provisions referring to the group as "the organization."

The draft excludes intentional homicide and life sentences issued before 2005 from legal relief. Negotiations also reportedly incorporated several DEM Party proposals, including replacing "surrendering weapons" with "laying down or destroying weapons" and assigning the Turkish Parliament's Presidency responsibility for establishing the parliamentary oversight committee.

The framework further provides for a Peace and Politicization Council and three subcommittees tasked with assessing participants' legal and economic circumstances during the implementation process.

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