A 12-article framework law tackling legal aspects of the government’s “terror-free Türkiye” project, whose main goal is the full disarmament and dissolution of the PKK terror group, is submitted to the parliament on Aug. 5 with plans to ratify it over the next weekend.
Titled the “Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration,” the framework bill has been submitted with the support of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) after months of parliamentary discussions and evaluations of the security and intelligence institutions.
The draft law is planned to be discussed at a relevant parliamentary commission on Aug. 7 before taking it to the General Assembly over the weekend and early next week. The law will take effect after it will be signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and published in the Official Gazette.
The anti-terror campaign was first brought to the country’s agenda in late 2024 and followed with PKK’s declaration that it gives an end to its armed conflict against Türkiye in June 2025.
AKP’s deputy parliament leader Abdullah Güler has explained that the law will serve to resolve a longstanding problem of Türkiye and consolidate the unity and solidarity in the country.
“The main essence of the law is about the disarmament and dissolution of the PKK/KCK terrorist organization,” he said while briefing the media on Aug. 5.
HH Top security board to confirm the disarmament process
The main objective of the law is to confirm that PKK and all its affiliated structures have ceased their activities and surrendered all weapons and ammunition, the text reads.
To this end, it stipulates that security institutions verify that the PKK effectively ceased its existence and disarmed and that the entire process must be confirmed by the National Security Council (MGK).
The scope of the drafted law includes crimes of establishing and managing PKK, being a member of it, engaging in its propaganda as well as the crimes committed in favor of the organization as defined in law on the prevention of financing terrorism.
However, those members of the terrorist organization who are being investigated or prosecuted over heavy crimes committed before June 2005 are exempted from this law.
Some prosecutions will be postponed
Another important item of the drafted law regulates the postponement of the investigations and prosecutions of some PKK members.
According to the text, for crimes punishable by a maximum sentence of 15 years or less, investigations and prosecutions will be postponed for five years. It stresses that for crimes punishable by more than 15 years of imprisonment, life imprisonment or aggravated life imprisonment, investigations and prosecutions will be postponed for 10 years.
If no new crime is committed during this period, the prosecution against the person in question will be dropped, stipulates the law. Those PKK members who want to benefit from this law must officially apply within six months after it takes effect.
Vice President to chair a steering committee
According to the text, a committee under the leadership of Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz will be formed for the implementation and evaluation of the process. The body will include foreign, justice, interior and justice ministers, intelligence chief and the head of the MGK while the parliament will also establish a 17-member board for following the activities taken under this law.
The law instructs the defense and interior ministries to observe and verify the disarmament of PKK.
