Politics & Governance
Turkey PKK amnesty may release 3,500, lawmakers say
Turkish lawmakers passed a limited amnesty law for Kurdish PKK militants on Monday, with lawmakers saying it is expected to involve the release of around 3,500 PKK-linked detainees in an initial phase.
The bill passed by 468 votes to 88, with six abstentions. It is Turkey's first legislative step in the current peace process aimed at ending decades of violence involving the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK.
The text allows some PKK fighters who lay down their weapons to return to civilian life, but it does not grant a total amnesty. It suspends prosecutions and prison sentences for some offences for between five and 10 years. If those covered do not reoffend during that period, investigations would be dropped and sentences considered served.
People involved in serious crimes, including murder, are excluded. The law does not specify what will happen to Abdullah Ocalan, the 77-year-old jailed PKK founder who has spent 27 years in solitary confinement on Imrali prison island near Istanbul.
Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz told CNN Turk last week that Ocalan's case “does not fall within the scope of this law,” but said he would be “in a position to contribute to the peace process,” without giving further details.
Ocalan urged PKK fighters in February 2025 to disarm and use democratic means to defend the rights of Turkey's Kurdish minority. The PKK announced in May 2025 that it was disbanding after his call, and militants took part in a symbolic disarmament ceremony in northern Iraq two months later.
The measure is backed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party and the pro-Kurdish DEM party. DEM has played a role in contacts between Ocalan and Turkey's political establishment, with delegations travelling to Imrali to meet him and relay messages.
The PKK leadership has said excluding Ocalan from the legislation would be a red line. On Sunday, it warned that many of the bill's provisions would remain a “dead letter” if he were not freed.
The parliamentary debate showed continuing public and political unease. Turhan Comez, a lawmaker with the nationalist opposition Iyi party, asked how Turkey could negotiate with terrorists. Ozgur Ozel, leader of Yeni Parti, supported the bill and said peace, democracy and justice were needed as a remedy for Turkey.
Update
Lawmakers said the measure is expected to involve the release of around 3,500 PKK-linked detainees in an initial phase.
Turkey's Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz said Abdullah Ocalan's case does not fall within the scope of the law.
Yilmaz said Ocalan would be in a position to contribute to the peace process, without giving further details.
The vote followed debate in which nationalist opposition lawmaker Turhan Comez criticised negotiations with the PKK, while opposition leader Ozgur Ozel supported the bill.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 August 2026 at 19:53:44 UTC.
Update
Turkish lawmakers passed the bill by 468 votes in favour, 88 against and six abstentions.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 August 2026 at 19:40:34 UTC.
Update
Turkish lawmakers backed the law on reintegrating PKK militants.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 August 2026 at 19:37:24 UTC.
Update
Turkish lawmakers began debating the Kurdish peace bill on Monday.
The bill was expected to be adopted later on Monday.
The source describes the debate as the first legislative step in the current effort to end decades of violence.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 August 2026 at 09:55:30 UTC.
Update
The PKK criticised the proposed Turkish law, saying it contained serious errors and shortcomings.
The PKK warned that many provisions would remain a “dead letter” unless Abdullah Ocalan is released from prison.
The PKK called for guarantees that former fighters could take part in political life without being jailed over their political views.
The legislation is due to be debated by Turkey's parliament on Monday.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 August 2026 at 22:31:05 UTC.
Update
Selahattin Demirtas backed the limited and conditional amnesty bill on Sunday.
The bill cleared parliament's committee stage on Friday.
A parliamentary vote is scheduled for Monday.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 August 2026 at 16:50:28 UTC.
Update
The bill is entitled “Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly welcomed the bill on X.
The draft requires a National Security Council decision confirming that the PKK has ceased to exist in practice and handed over its weapons and ammunition before the return mechanism applies.
Appeals by PKK members seeking to benefit from the law would be limited to a six-month period once the law is effective.
The bill provides for the registration of weapons surrendered or declared by PKK members.
Parliament's justice committee is due to examine the draft law on Friday.
Source note: AFP news report published on 5 August 2026 at 18:12:58 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The law leaves Ocalan's future unresolved.
The exact number and timing of detainee releases remain framed as an expectation by lawmakers.
The long-term success of the peace process is not established.
Source
AFP news report published on .