The Turkish parliament has approved a bill to formally abolish the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and grant limited amnesty to its fighters.
According to foreign media, this is the first legislation of this kind by the Turkish government to end the conflict. The bill, titled “Turkey Free of Terrorism,” was debated for 12 hours, after which 468 votes were cast in favor and 88 votes were cast against, while 6 members were absent.
Media reports have said that this has paved the way for the peace process to end the decades-long conflict to be expanded.
Some of the PKK fighters who have laid down their arms under the law will be granted limited amnesty to lead a normal life, however, the PKK’s imprisoned founding leader Abdullah Ocalan was not included in the scope of the legislation.
Media reports further state that the PKK has made the release of its 77-year-old leader, who has been in solitary confinement on an island off the coast of Istanbul for 27 years, its main demand.
18 months ago, Abdullah Ocalan called on his supporters to lay down their arms and adopt democratic methods to protect the rights of Turkey’s Kurdish minority.
According to media reports, the new legislation could see the release of about a third of the PKK prisoners, or 3,500 people.
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