Turkey’s parliament opens debate on a pardon-like bill for thousands of PKK militants

Turkey's parliament was to discuss a draft bill on Monday that would offer a conditional amnesty to thousands of Kurdish militants, aiming to facilitate peace talks with the insurgent group. The United States and the European Union consider the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) a terrorist organization.

Last year, the PKK announced it would disarm and disband as part of the peace effort, following its leader Abdullah Ocalan's decision from prison. The 12-article bill lays out the procedures for the group's disarmament and the rehabilitation of thousands of its members. It would waive or postpone prison sentences for convicted PKK members and delay ongoing investigations and trials for five or ten years, contingent on no further terror-related crimes occurring within that period.

The pardon-like measures would take effect only after Turkey's National Security Council confirms the group's disbandment and weapon surrender. Applicants would have six months to apply after the council's decision is published in the Official Gazette.

The bill is expected to pass with the votes of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party, its nationalist allies and a pro-Kurdish DEM party. However, the proposal does not address Ocalan's status or potential release, though reports suggest his conditions may be improved in his island prison near Istanbul. The PKK has been fighting for an independent Kurdish state or expanded autonomy in Turkey since 1984, resulting in thousands of deaths and spilling into Iraq and Syria. Previous peace attempts have failed.