Key facts
- Turkey's parliament passed a law to establish a legal framework for the disbandment of the PKK.
- The legislation offers conditional amnesty and legal protections to former militants who have not committed specific crimes.
- It allows for the suspension of prison sentences and postponement of investigations for eligible individuals.
- Convicted killers and those sentenced before 2005, including PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, are excluded.
- The law requires confirmation of the PKK's disbandment and weapon surrender by the National Security Council to take effect.
Turkey's parliament has passed a law establishing a legal framework for the disbandment of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a significant step toward ending a decades-old conflict. 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 PKK has waged an armed insurgency since 1984, resulting in tens of thousands of lives lost. The group is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union. Previous peace efforts have failed, with the most recent attempt collapsing in 2015. The bill is widely expected to pass with support from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party, its nationalist allies, and the pro-Kurdish DEM party.