Turkish parliament passes landmark law to advance PKK peace process
The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a designated terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the European Union, has waged a conflict that has killed tens of thousands.
Turkey's parliament has passed a landmark law aimed at advancing the peace process with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), marking a significant step toward ending the conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives. The legislation establishes a legal framework for the disbandment of the outlawed PKK, offering protections for former militants and facilitating the release of some imprisoned members.
President Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AK Party, along with nationalist MHP allies and the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, supported the measure, which was approved by a substantial majority. This development comes after PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan called for disarmament in February 2025, and the group symbolically burned its weapons in May 2025.
The conflict, which began in 1984, has resulted in over 40,000 deaths and has caused significant economic and social challenges in Kurdish-majority regions. While the law aims to manage the disarmament and reintegration of PKK members, it does not address broader Kurdish demands for political and cultural rights or the status of Ocalan, who remains imprisoned.
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