Turkish parliament passes landmark law to advance PKK peace process

Turkey's parliament has enacted a landmark law aimed at dismantling the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), marking a significant stride in the long-standing conflict. The legislation, approved by a substantial majority, provides a legal pathway for former militants to reintegrate into society by offering protections and sentence suspensions for those not involved in specific crimes.

The move follows a call by jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan in February 2025 for the group to disarm and disband. The PKK subsequently announced an end to its armed struggle in May 2025, with militants symbolically burning weapons in northern Iraq later that year. This new law addresses a critical question: the fate of thousands of PKK members as the group dismantles its structures.

The process leading to this legislation began publicly in October 2024, with an unexpected suggestion from MHP leader Devlet Bahceli. A subsequent parliamentary commission gathered input from various stakeholders before recommending the current bill. While this law is a concrete step, it does not resolve broader Kurdish demands for enhanced political and cultural rights, reforms to anti-terrorism laws, or the status of Ocalan.

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Fighters with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) walk for a disarmament ceremony marking a significant step toward ending the decades-long conflict between Turkey and the outlawed group, in the Qandil mountains, Iraq October 26, 2025.