Turkey’s parliament on Monday approved legislation introducing a conditional pardon for thousands of Kurdish militants as part of a government peace initiative with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), according to AP.
Legislators passed the measure with a 468-88 vote. The 12-article legislation will only take effect once Turkey’s National Security Council confirms the PKK has disbanded and surrendered all weapons. The bill establishes parliamentary and ministerial committees to monitor the disarmament process.
Terms of the Pardon
The legislation outlines procedures for the rehabilitation of thousands of PKK members. Depending on the severity of the alleged offenses, the bill will postpone ongoing trials and investigations for five or 10 years, or suspend certain prison sentences for convicted members. If no terror-related crimes are committed during those time frames, the cases will be dropped.
Certain individuals are excluded from these provisions, including those sentenced to life terms before 2005 and militants convicted of intentional killings. This exclusion applies to senior PKK figures and the group’s imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan.
PKK Response and Political Reaction
The PKK, which previously announced it was ending its armed campaign against the Turkish state and held a symbolic disarmament ceremony in northern Iraq, described the legislation as a beginning
that contains serious shortcomings and deficiencies
, according to a statement carried by AP.
Opposition to the bill included Musavat Dervisoglu, leader of the center-right nationalist Good Party, who claimed the measure would pave the way
for President Erdogan to remain in power.
While the proposal does not mention the release or status of Ocalan, who has been imprisoned since 1999, media reports suggest his communication and visiting conditions in his island prison may be improved.
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