Turkish parliament passes law for reintegration of PKK members

On August 10, 2026, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey passed a 12-article law aimed at ending the long-standing Kurdish conflict. The legislation, titled the "Law for the Strengthening of National Solidarity and Social Integration," was approved with a vote of 468 in favor, 88 against, and six abstentions. It received support from the ruling AKP, the nationalist MHP, the pro-Kurdish DEM party, and the main opposition CHP, while the IYI party voted against it and the New Welfare Party abstained.

The law creates a framework for the disarmament and social reintegration of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) fighters who have not committed serious crimes. It provides for legal protection, the suspension of cases for up to ten years, and enables the return of former militants to political life. Parliamentary sources suggest that approximately 3,500 prisoners linked to the organization could be released in the initial phase of the implementation. However, officials clarified that the law does not constitute a general amnesty. Additionally, the status of imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan remains unchanged, as the legislation does not address his long-term detention.