Turkey passes historic law on amnesty for PKK

Turkey's parliament has approved a landmark law offering limited amnesty to Kurdish PKK militants, marking a crucial development in the long-standing conflict. The legislation, passed on Monday, is seen as a significant step toward ending the decades-long, bloody confrontation.

The law grants legal protection to many former militants who have not committed specific crimes and allows for the suspension of prison sentences for individuals convicted of PKK membership. This paves the way for their reintegration into society. The bill comes 18 months after Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned founder of the PKK, urged his followers to cease armed struggle and advocate for the rights of the Kurdish minority through democratic channels.

In May 2025, the PKK announced its intention to end its armed campaign and dissolve itself. The PKK, designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the EU, began its armed struggle in 1984. The conflict has claimed over 40,000 lives and fueled decades of political and social division within Turkey.

While the law does not address the fate of the 77-year-old Öcalan, who has been held in isolation on the prison island of Imrali for 27 years, his role has been central to peace efforts. The legislation is Turkey's first legal measure aimed at concluding the conflict, though it does not directly address broader Kurdish political demands concerning cultural and linguistic rights or administrative decentralization.