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Turkish Parliament will establish a special commission this week to oversee the PKK terrorist group's disarmament and dissolution process, marking the fourth phase of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's "terror-free Türkiye" initiative, according to Turkish columnist Abdulkadir Selvi.
Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus will request political parties to nominate commission members, Selvi reported in Hurriyet, as the government advances its plan following the first PKK's recent surrender of weapons in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq.
The parliamentary commission will undertake several critical tasks to facilitate the disarmament process: "The commission will work throughout the summer. When Parliament opens in October, the legal infrastructure for PKK's disarmament and dissolution process will be completed," Selvi wrote.
The body will prepare political groundwork for the PKK's weapons surrender and organizational dissolution while developing legal frameworks for implementation starting in October. Amendments to the Counter-Terrorism Law and Execution Law are expected.
More than 5,000 PKK members currently remain in Turkish prisons, according to the report. The planned legal changes will affect their status, including those who have completed their sentences but face ongoing detention extensions due to PKK affiliation.
"There are around 100 sick and elderly prisoners. Their situation requires separate consideration," Selvi said in his column.
The government reportedly plans to release prisoners who have completed their sentences, ending the practice of continuous detention extensions for PKK members.
Turkish authorities have emphasized that no general amnesty or PKK-specific pardon will be implemented, countering widespread rumors about potential blanket forgiveness.
"There is no amnesty for the PKK. General amnesty is definitely not on the agenda. The perception of impunity will not be eliminated," Selvi stated.
"The process marks the first time a designated terrorist organization has voluntarily disarmed and dissolved itself in Türkiye," officials said, according to Selvi's report.
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