Turkey's Parliament Approves Legal Framework for PKK Disarmament

Turkey's parliament has passed a landmark legal framework aimed at the disarmament and reintegration of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) members, marking a significant step toward resolving a conflict that has spanned more than four decades.

The legislation was approved on Monday with 468 votes in favor, 88 against, and six abstentions from the 562 lawmakers present. The vote followed nearly ten hours of intense debate, underscoring the political sensitivity of the initiative.

The draft law, submitted earlier this month, was backed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling alliance and also received support from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party and other opposition groups.

Under the new framework, lower-ranking PKK members who were not involved in killings or other serious crimes will be allowed to return to Turkey from northern Iraq under specified legal conditions. The legislation explicitly excludes jailed PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan, senior PKK leaders, and those serving aggravated life sentences.

Government officials have clarified that the legislation is designed to facilitate the disarmament process rather than serve as a general amnesty.

The conflict between the PKK and the Turkish state, which began in 1984, has claimed more than 40,000 lives, according to widely cited estimates. In May 2025, the PKK announced its decision to disarm and disband, following Ocalan's call to end the armed struggle.