Parliament set for final vote on ‘terror-free Türkiye’ bill

ANKARA

Türkiye’s parliament is set to debate and vote on Aug. 10 on the framework bill underpinning the “terror-free Türkiye” process, with passage expected following broad cross-party support.

The General Assembly will convene at 11 a.m. to take up the Bill on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration.

The proposal cleared the Justice Commission after an 18-hour session and is expected to be the final bill passed before parliament recesses until Oct. 1.

Lawmakers from the AKP, MHP, DEM Party, CHP and HÜDA PAR, along with several independents, backed the proposal’s submission.

The İYİ Party opposes the bill, describing it in its dissenting opinion as an amnesty.

Özgür Özel’s New Party was due to determine its position at an executive board meeting before the vote.

Under the proposal, its key provisions would take effect only after security agencies determine that the PKK/KCK and structures linked to it have ceased their operational existence and surrendered all weapons and ammunition.

The finding must then be confirmed by the National Security Council, with its decision published in the Official Gazette.

The bill covers offences involving the establishment or leadership of the PKK/KCK, membership in the group, knowingly assisting it, conducting propaganda on its behalf, crimes committed as part of its activities and related terrorism-financing offences.

For eligible cases, investigations, trials and the execution of sentences would be deferred for five years when the prison term is 15 years or less, and for 10 years when the term exceeds 15 years or involves life or aggravated life imprisonment.

The exclusions include intentional killings committed as part of the group’s activities and offences committed before June 1, 2005, that carry life or aggravated life sentences.

Implementation would be overseen by a board chaired by the vice president and comprising the justice, foreign, interior and defense ministers, the presidential secretary-general, the head of the National Intelligence Organization and the National Security Council secretary-general.

A separate 17-member parliamentary monitoring commission would also be established. Weapons, ammunition and other materials surrendered or declared by members of the group would be registered.

Mehmet Ökmen, the Justice Ministry’s director general of legislation, told lawmakers during the commission deliberations that the executive board would have no authority to issue judicial decisions. Such decisions would remain with prosecutors, courts and judges responsible for sentence enforcement, he said.