Turkish parliament to debate PKK reintegration bill on Wednesday

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey's parliament is set to begin debating on Wednesday a government bill that would allow members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to return to civilian life after more than four decades of armed conflict. The draft, prepared by the ruling Justice and Development Party under the title "Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration," excludes individuals accused of killing soldiers or civilians. Other former combatants would be eligible for conditional release and judicial measures, with terms ranging from five to ten years depending on the acts they committed, according to the bill's provisions. The text does not resolve the status of Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned founder of the PKK, who has been held on İmralı Island since 1999. Presidential Communications Director Burhaneddin Duran described the legislation as a "historic step toward a terror-free Turkey." The bill is expected to be taken up by the parliamentary Justice Commission and could reach the General Assembly for a fast-tracked vote by the weekend or early next week. The current peace process began with an October 2024 call from Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party and a partner in the ruling People's Alliance. The PKK announced its dissolution in May 2025 after calling on its members to lay down arms.