Turkish parliament approves PKK disarmament bill

Türkiye’s parliament has approved a bill establishing a legal framework for the dissolution of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is banned by Ankara and designated a terrorist organisation, and the reintegration of its members into civilian life.

The debate on the bill lasted 12 hours, after which lawmakers voted separately on each of its 12 articles, which provide the legal basis for the PKK’s dissolution, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

The bill grants legal protection to former PKK members who have not committed serious crimes and simplifies the procedure for suspending prison sentences for certain convicted members.

However, the amnesty will not apply to PKK members convicted of intentional murder or those sentenced to life imprisonment before 2005, including PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan.

The law will take effect after it is signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov