Newsletters
Türkiye is preparing to introduce legal measures in stages as part of the “Terror-Free Türkiye” process, beginning with terrorist organization PKK members who have not participated in armed attacks or committed other crimes, Türkiye Daily reported.
The proposed framework legislation, expected to reach parliament next week, would form the basis for additional legal measures connected to the process.
According to the report, the initial legislation would not provide relief for individuals involved in bombings, armed attacks or the killings of soldiers and police officers.
Cases involving other crimes committed by PKK members would instead be handled separately according to the seriousness of each offense. Possible sentence enforcement arrangements for those individuals could be considered at a later stage.
Uncertainty over the status of senior PKK figures has reportedly been addressed in the draft framework.
Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus told political parties during recent visits that the legislation would not include provisions covering the organization’s senior leadership, Türkiye Daily reported.
AK Party sources reportedly said about 200 senior PKK figures based in the Qandil region would not be permitted to enter Türkiye.
Instead of relocating them to third countries, officials are reportedly considering allowing them to remain in Sulaymaniyah in northern Iraq, an area controlled by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan leader, Bafel Talabani.
The issue was also reportedly discussed during recent meetings held in northern Iraq by National Intelligence Organization chief Ibrahim Kalin.
The first phase of the legislation is expected to apply to PKK members who have not committed crimes, have not taken part in armed actions, or are currently in prison.
Offenses committed in addition to membership in the organization would be subject to separate legal procedures based on their severity.
The framework is also expected to cover certain PKK-linked figures in Europe, particularly those involved in managing the organization’s financial networks.
Individuals who have no criminal record or face only charges of membership in a terrorist organization could be allowed to return to Türkiye without receiving a sentence, according to the report.
The framework law is also expected to address the social integration of organization members returning to Türkiye.
A commission consisting of representatives from relevant ministries would reportedly be established for this purpose.
A separate mechanism involving Türkiye’s security bureaucracy would monitor the disarmament process and report its findings to relevant institutions.
Parliament would receive periodic information on how many organization members had returned to Türkiye, how many weapons had been surrendered and the types of weapons collected.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
