Turkey amnesty bill for PKK militants faces Kurdish group criticism

The Story in Brief

The Turkish parliament has introduced a limited amnesty bill for PKK militants who lay down their arms, marking the first legislative step in a peace process to end a 45-year conflict that has killed over 50,000 people. The bill, backed by President Erdogan's AKP party and its allies, suspends sentences for five to 10 years for militants who do not reoffend. However, it excludes serious crimes including intentional homicide and does not address the fate of jailed PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan, who has been in solitary confinement for 27 years.

The PKK has criticised the bill as insufficient, warning its provisions will remain a "dead letter" unless Ocalan is released and Kurdish political demands are addressed. The outlawed group dissolved itself in May 2025 following a peace initiative launched in October 2024 by nationalist leader Devlet Bahceli, an ally of Erdogan. The bill requires approval from parliament's justice committee before a full vote, with expectations of passage in the coming days. Pro-Kurdish DEM party co-chair Tuncer Bakirhan called the initiative a "milestone for peace" but the main opposition Yeni Party expressed regret at not being consulted on the text.