On August 10, 2026, Turkey’s parliament approved a new law aimed at implementing what the government terms the “Terror-Free Turkey” initiative, a process focused on the formal dissolution and disarmament of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The legislation passed with an overwhelming majority of 467 votes out of 600 seats, reflecting broad political consensus that includes President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AK Party), its allies, and notably, the pro-Kurdish Democratic (DEM) Party, a long-time political rival of Erdogan’s administration.
The PKK, designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union, has been engaged in an armed conflict with the Turkish state for decades. The newly enacted law provides mechanisms to suspend certain prosecutions and defer sentences related to PKK offenses while establishing a framework to facilitate the reintegration of eligible former PKK members into civilian life. Estimates suggest the legislation could impact around 4,000 individuals who are not directly involved in violent actions.
However, the law’s activation hinges upon stringent conditions. Turkish security authorities must verify that the PKK and its affiliates have ceased armed activities and surrendered weapons and ammunition. This verification must be confirmed by the National Security Council and officially published in the government gazette, the Resmi Gazete, before any provisions of the law take effect.
The Kurdish population, numbering between 30 and 40 million across Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria, makes up roughly one-fifth of Turkey’s population. Historically, the Turkish state has resisted Kurdish political autonomy over concerns it might threaten national unity or encourage separatism, especially after the establishment of an autonomous Kurdish administration in northern Iraq in 2005 and the emergence of Kurdish-controlled territories in Syria amid its civil war.
Turkey has conducted numerous military operations against PKK bases, notably airstrikes in northern Iraq since 2007 and intensified ground and aerial campaigns in southeastern Turkey following renewed PKK attacks beginning in 2011. Efforts to resolve the conflict through negotiations have been intermittent. Notably, a peace process initiated in 2012 led to a temporary ceasefire but eventually collapsed by 2015 amid escalating violence that resulted in approximately 3,000 deaths over two years, with total conflict casualties since 1984 exceeding 40,000.
The current initiative differs from earlier efforts. It was catalyzed by an unexpected proposal in October 2024 from Devlet Bahceli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and a key Erdogan ally, who suggested that PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan, imprisoned since 1999, should call for the PKK’s dissolution. Although Ocalan did not address parliament directly, subsequent communications from prison and meetings between DEM politicians and Ocalan led to pivotal statements urging the PKK to abandon armed conflict and transition to democratic political engagement.
In May 2025, the PKK officially declared its intention to disband and end its armed struggle during its 12th Congress, a commitment reinforced by a rare video statement from Ocalan in July 2025. He called on the Turkish parliament to establish oversight mechanisms for disarmament and the peace process.
The legislation passed this August formalizes those commitments into a legal framework. Yet, key practical challenges remain unresolved, particularly regarding the location, method, and verification of PKK weapons surrender. Turkish security officials are reportedly coordinating with counterparts in Iraq, the Kurdistan Regional Government, and Syria to address these issues.
As the process stands, the achievement of a “terror-free Turkey” remains uncertain and subject to complex political and security developments in the region.