Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) fighters, who reportedly withdrew from Turkey with their weapons, stand to attention during a ceremony in the Qandil area of northern, Iraq, Sunday, Oct 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Rashid Yahya, File)
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has signed into law a measure that would introduce a conditional pardon for thousands of Kurdish militants as part of a government peace effort with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK.
The measure was published in the Official Gazette on Tuesday. It will only come into force after Turkey’s National Security Council confirms that the group has fully dissolved itself and disarmed.
Parliament approved the bill overwhelmingly last week. It would suspend certain prison sentences for convicted PKK members and postpone ongoing investigations and trials against others for five or 10 years, depending on the severity of the crime. Authorities would drop the cases against the individuals if they don’t re-offend during those periods.
The legislation also establishes a committee to oversee the group’s disarmament, with its first meeting expected next week.
Last year, the PKK — considered a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies — announced its decision to disband, following a call by its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan. Ocalan and other key PKK figures are excluded from the pardon.
Soon after that, some fighters laid down their weapons in a symbolic ceremony in northern Iraq, where the group is based, and withdrew some fighters from key locations in Turkey to Iraq.
The conflict with the PKK has killed tens of thousands of people since the 1980s.
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Comment by Yosemitedan.
Wait....erdogan isn't in prison, yet???
Comment by oyafbain.
Today, 15 million Kurds live in Türkiye with full citizenship
rights. They participate in all aspects of society, and opportunities
for advancement are equally available in whatever profession they
choose. The largest population of Turkish Kurds lives in Istanbul.
PKK militants amount to 4000-5000, at one time, it was up to
10,000. The West spreads misinformation, and it is easily believed
by most who don't bother to check the facts. The term "Kurds"
should not be used to describe the members of the PKK. Hopefully,
PKK members will be part of the 15 million soon..
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