Key board set for first meeting to advance anti-terror bid

ANKARA, A high-level board chaired by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz is set to convene for its first meeting on August 24 to advance the government’s “terror-free Türkiye” initiative. The gathering marks a pivotal step in the administration’s effort to oversee the disarmament and eventual dissolution of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The board will include top officials such as Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi, Justice Minister Adil Gürlek, National Intelligence Organization (MİT) chief İbrahim Kalın, and National Security Council (MGK) head Okay Memiş. The meeting will focus on establishing sub-committees to manage specific aspects of the initiative. One of these committees will monitor the PKK’s disarmament process, including verifying the location and method of weapon surrender, as well as deciding whether seized arms will be stored or destroyed. Another committee will handle judicial matters related to PKK members seeking deferment of their sentences. Decisions on these requests will be made by judges based on individual case files. The outcomes of these sub-committees will inform the board’s recommendations to the government. The initiative stems from a broader legislative effort. In early August, Turkey’s parliament passed the 12-article Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration, which forms the legal foundation for the “terror-free Türkiye” campaign. The law, effective after being signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and published in the Official Gazette, allows for temporary exemptions from prosecution for PKK members who meet certain criteria. These exemptions apply only to individuals not involved in acts of terrorism or serious crimes, and the deferrals remain subject to judicial discretion. The “terror-free Türkiye” process began in late 2024 following a call by MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli. It gained momentum in February 2025 when jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan urged his organization to end its armed struggle and dismantle its structure. In response, the PKK announced its decision to disarm and disband in June 2025, culminating in a symbolic weapon-burning ceremony held by its members in northern Iraq. Turkey’s efforts to bring the PKK to compliance have been supported by ongoing monitoring of the group’s activities. Authorities continue to track the PKK’s movements, particularly in the mountainous regions of northern Iraq, where the group reportedly uses a network of caves as hideouts. The upcoming meeting will likely address strategies for ensuring the safe and verified handover of weapons, with discussions on logistics and verification mechanisms. The law also outlines provisions for the social integration and rehabilitation of PKK members willing to return to Turkey. A dedicated working board will coordinate with experts from the Ministry of Family and Social Services and the Ministry of Health to facilitate this process. Additionally, another board will be responsible for registering PKK members applying for deferrals under the new legislation. The initiative will involve regular updates to Parliament, with a newly formed Monitoring Committee tasked with overseeing the next phase of the program. Implementation steps depend on the National Security Board’s confirmation that the PKK has fully disarmed. Under the law, PKK members who apply for deferrals within six months may see their cases postponed for up to five or ten years, depending on the nature of their offenses. Notably, intentional homicide committed during PKK operations, as well as offenses prior to June 1, 2005, that carry life imprisonment or aggravated life imprisonment, are excluded from the law’s protections. As a result, PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan remains ineligible for these provisions. Individuals convicted of intentional homicide will also not qualify for the benefits outlined in the law. President Erdoğan will highlight the progress of the “terror-free Türkiye” initiative during his visit to eastern Türkiye this week, commemorating the 955th anniversary of a Seljuk battle that solidified Turkish rule in the region. The visit underscores the political significance of the campaign, especially considering the influence of Devlet Bahçeli, whose party plays a key role in supporting the government’s approach.