Turkish lawmakers have approved legislation that could allow thousands of members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to return to civilian life if they lay down their weapons, marking a major step towards ending decades of conflict.
The bill was approved on Monday by 468 votes to 88, with six lawmakers abstaining. However, it does not provide a blanket amnesty for all PKK members.
Under the legislation, prosecutions and prison sentences for certain offences could be suspended for between five and 10 years, provided those involved meet the conditions set out in the law.
Lawmakers said the first phase could lead to the release of approximately 3,500 PKK-linked detainees, representing about one-third of those currently held in Turkish prisons.
The legislation has received backing from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the pro-Kurdish DEM Party.
The move comes about 18 months after jailed PKK founder Abdullah Öcalan called on the organisation to disarm and end its armed struggle.
The PKK began its armed rebellion against the Turkish state in 1984. The conflict has killed more than 40,000 people and contributed to decades of political, social and economic tensions, particularly in southeastern Türkiye, where many Kurds live.
The Turkish government, the United States and the European Union classify the PKK as a terrorist organisation.
The new legislation is being viewed as Türkiye’s first major legislative step towards ending the long-running conflict and opening a path towards a broader peace process.
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