Turkish parliament passes landmark law to advance PKK peace process

Turkey’s parliament passed a law on Monday establishing a legal framework for the disbandment of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), marking a major step toward ending a decades-old conflict that has killed tens of thousands.

The legislation provides legal protections for many former militants who have not committed specific crimes and facilitates the suspension of prison sentences for some people convicted of PKK membership, paving the way for their reintegration into society.

The law was approved by a 468-vote majority in the 600-seat parliament after securing support from President Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling AK Party, its nationalist MHP allies, and the pro-Kurdish DEM Party.

This measure represents the most concrete step taken by Ankara in the peace process since jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan called on the group in February 2025 to disarm and disband.

Following Ocalan’s call, the PKK announced in May 2025 that it would end its armed struggle, leading to a symbolic ceremony in northern Iraq two months later where a group of militants burned their weapons.

The PKK launched its insurgency in 1984, leading to a conflict that has killed over 40,000 people, placed a heavy economic burden on southeast Turkey, and fuelled decades of political and social division.

This new legislation specifically addresses the long-standing question of how to manage thousands of PKK members as the organisation dismantles its military and organizational structures.

The current public peace initiative began in October 2024 when MHP leader Devlet Bahceli unexpectedly suggested that Ocalan could address parliament to announce the PKK’s dissolution.

A parliamentary commission established in August 2025 subsequently heard testimony from politicians, officials, and civil society groups before recommending legislation to oversee disarmament and reintegration.

While the law addresses reintegration, it does not by itself resolve broader Kurdish demands regarding expanded political and cultural rights, anti-terrorism amendments, or the detention status of Ocalan.

The Turkish government frames the initiative as a pathway toward creating a “terror-free Turkey,” whereas Kurdish politicians emphasize that achieving lasting peace requires broader democratic and legal reforms.