Turkey’s parliament begins discussing historic Kurdish peace bill

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will meet with a delegation from the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on Thursday. The meeting, set for 4 p.m. local time, involves DEM Party lawmakers Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar, members of the party’s Imralı delegation. This marks the first such meeting since Parliament approved the Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration, known as the “framework law,” earlier this month. The law was passed by Parliament on Aug. 10 with 468 votes in favor, 88 against, and six abstentions. It supports the government’s “Terror-Free Türkiye” initiative, which aims to end decades of terrorism and enhance social integration. The legislation represents a key component of the legal framework for the initiative, which has been a focal point of political efforts led by President Erdoğan and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli. Erdoğan previously met with Buldan and Sancar on Feb. 11, 2026. At that time, the delegation emphasized the importance of adopting legal measures related to the process “without delay and with the broadest possible consensus.” The current meeting is expected to focus on implementing the newly adopted legislation and moving forward with the next phase of the initiative. Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the MHP, stated that jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan should continue to contribute to the “terror-free Türkiye” initiative. In remarks published on Aug. 17, Bahçeli said conditions should be created to allow Öcalan to participate in the process. The initiative began with Bahçeli’s call in October 2024 for Öcalan to encourage the PKK to end its campaign. This was followed by the PKK’s decision to dissolve itself and lay down arms, and the submission of the framework law to Parliament. Lawmakers approved the 12-article Law on National Solidarity and Strengthening Social Integration on Aug. 10, with 467 votes in favor, 87 against, and seven abstentions. Bahçeli described the approval as the beginning of a new phase involving legal and administrative measures and pledged to make the “terror-free Türkiye” vision a permanent state policy. The MHP leader also mentioned that controversial issues, including the implementation of European Court of Human Rights rulings, would be reviewed as part of the initiative. These rulings have been politically contentious in Türkiye, particularly regarding jailed and convicted politicians. On Aug. 15, two senior lawmakers from the DEM Party visited Selahattin Demirtaş, a former co-chair of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), and Selçuk Mızraklı, a former mayor of Diyarbakır, at Edirne Prison. The lawmakers, Buldan and Sancar, said addressing the situation of Demirtaş and others would contribute to establishing peace and democracy. Their visit occurred two days after they met with President Erdoğan on Aug. 13. Before their talks, Buldan had indicated that “all issues, including Demirtaş’s release,” would be discussed. The European Court of Human Rights had found violations concerning Demirtaş’s detention, and Türkiye’s request to refer the case to the court’s Grand Chamber was rejected in November 2025. Professor İbrahim Kaboğlu, chair of the Istanbul Bar Association and a constitutional law expert, described the framework law as an “undeclared amnesty.” He argued that the law effectively establishes the PKK as a “terrorist” group and creates a discriminatory amnesty targeting specific categories of offenses and time periods. Kaboğlu criticized the requirement that the verification mechanism be tied to the National Security Council (MGK), noting that the arrangement grants the council a status beyond its constitutional role. The law allows proceedings and ongoing cases involving the PKK to be suspended for five to 10 years, provided the group is confirmed to have laid down its arms. Killings committed as part of the PKK’s activities and people sentenced to life imprisonment before 2005 are excluded from the law. The law does not cover the “Academics for Peace,” who signed a peace declaration in 2016 and faced trials on “terror propaganda” charges. According to Tuncer Bakırhan, co-leader of the DEM Party, the law could lead to the release of more than 3,800 prisoners once it takes effect. The law affects 125,000 cases in total, with around 900 people excluded in the initial stage. Further legislation is expected as the process continues. Implementation of the law depends on the state confirming that the PKK has laid down its arms. The confirmation process includes four stages, starting with the PKK surrendering its weapons, followed by verification by security agencies, confirmation by the National Security Council, and publication in the Official Gazette. State oversight will continue during the normalization process. The business community has expressed optimism about the economic benefits of the “terror-free Türkiye” initiative. Investors and business leaders believe the law will boost investor confidence, spur regional development, and improve the country’s long-term economic outlook. They argue that a stable and secure environment fosters growth and attracts investment. Erdoğan met with the families of fallen soldiers and veterans at the Presidential Complex on Thursday. The meeting included the Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, who emphasized the state’s commitment to supporting veterans and their families. Erdoğan reiterated that the “terror-free Türkiye” initiative is a historic step toward ending a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives over four decades. He credited the nation’s resilience and the state’s advancements, particularly in the defense industry, for reaching this stage.