Turkey to unveil draft law that would bring PKK peace

Turkey's ruling alliance is poised to introduce a draft law aimed at facilitating the disbandment of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The legislation, expected to be submitted to parliament on Wednesday, seeks to end a protracted conflict that has claimed over 40,000 lives since 1984.

The core of the draft law, details of which emerged last November, focuses on managing the return of PKK fighters and civilians from their bases in northern Iraq. It outlines processes for their reintegration into society through the justice system. Lawmakers anticipate approving this legal framework within the week, a significant step toward resolving the long-standing insurgency.

The bill, titled "national solidarity and social integration," has garnered broad support across the political spectrum. President Tayyip Erdogan's AK Party and its nationalist MHP allies have co-signed the legislation. The pro-Kurdish DEM Party and most other parties, including the main opposition, have also voiced their support.

Abdullah Guler, the AKP's parliamentary group leader, confirmed the submission date. The peace process between Turkey and the PKK, which began in late 2024, had previously stalled due to regional instability. The PKK had announced its intention to disarm and disband in May of the previous year following an appeal from its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan. The PKK is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union. Its insurgency began in 1984, initially seeking an independent Kurdish state before shifting focus to autonomy and political rights.

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the bill will be submitted on Wednesday