Turkish parliament passes law to reintegrate PKK fighters, 468-88

Parliament passes reintegration law

Turkey's parliament voted on Monday 10 August to adopt a law paving the way for the reintegration of PKK fighters who renounce armed struggle, the most concrete step yet in a peace process launched in late 2024. The bill passed with 468 votes in favour and 88 against in the 600-seat assembly, backed by the ruling AKP of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, its nationalist coalition partner MHP, and the pro-Kurdish DEM Party. The legislation, officially titled "Law on the Strengthening of National Solidarity and Social Integration," was adopted after twelve hours of debate broadcast on the public channel TRT.

The law suspends prosecutions and the execution of sentences for certain offences for a period of five to ten years. According to Turkish deputies, some 3,500 former guerrilla members out of nearly 10,000 detained in Turkish prisons could be released in a first phase. If no reoffending occurs during the suspension period, investigations will be closed and sentences considered served. Those convicted of the most serious crimes, such as voluntary homicide or leading a "terrorist" organisation, are excluded from the mechanism, as are individuals sentenced to life imprisonment before 2005.

Disarmament verification required

Implementation will only begin once Turkish security authorities confirm the actual dissolution of the PKK and its affiliated structures and verify that weapons have been surrendered. A government commission and the Turkish intelligence service MIT will oversee the disarmament and capitulation process. The law does not constitute a general amnesty, a point the government stressed given public sensitivity rooted in a conflict that has killed more than 40,000 people since 1984, according to some sources, while others cite figures of at least 50,000 dead.

Öcalan's fate unresolved

The law makes no mention of Abdullah Öcalan, the PKK's 77-year-old founder imprisoned on Imrali prison island since 1999 and serving a life sentence. Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz stated that Öcalan's fate "does not fall under this law" but added that he remains "able to contribute to the peace process." The PKK leadership on Sunday denounced what it called "grave errors and shortcomings" in the text, arguing that numerous provisions would remain ineffective if Öcalan is not released. The group continues to demand his freedom, describing him as a "coordinator of the peace process."

A process in stages

The law follows a sequence of events that began when Öcalan called on PKK fighters in February 2025 to lay down their arms and dissolve the organisation. The PKK announced in May 2025 that it would end its armed struggle and dissolve itself. Two months later, a group of fighters held a symbolic weapon-burning ceremony in northern Iraq, where Ankara says a limited number of combatants remain entrenched.

Political backing and public unease

Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the MHP and initiator of the peace process in late 2024, was seen shaking hands with officials of the pro-Kurdish DEM Party after the vote. Supporters argue that a stable Turkey matters at a time of regional turmoil, including the wars in Ukraine and Iran. Critics, particularly among nationalists, fear the negotiations could deepen divisions. Others question whether the process will ultimately lead to Öcalan's release. The PKK, which began its armed campaign against the Turkish state in 1984, is designated a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union. Previous peace attempts between Turkey and the PKK have failed, but none produced steps as concrete as the current legislation.