Justice minister: Anti-terror bill excludes ringleaders, killers

Justice Minister Akin Gurlek on Thursday outlined key exclusions in the government's proposed Bill on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration, stating that the legislation contains no provisions for individuals who ordered terrorist attacks or those responsible for killing Turkish security personnel. “The proposal submitted to parliament contains no provision regarding those who gave orders for terrorism or those who martyred our security forces,” Gurlek said in a video message shared on social media, adding that “no special status is granted to any individual, and the regulation will not be extended to other structures.”

Gurlek described the initiative as a national state policy designed to establish lasting peace while upholding the rule of law and respecting the sensitivities of martyrs' families. “The sensitivities of our martyrs' families and our heroic veterans will be the fundamental measure of the process,” he said, noting that no action would be permitted that harms their honor or the sacred memory of fallen service members. The minister emphasized that all procedures would be carried out in line with the Constitution while taking into account the sensitivities of the Turkish people.

Strict disarmament conditions for terror groups

The 12-article draft law establishes strict conditions for any normalization process to begin, requiring the terrorist organization to cease operations entirely and surrender all weapons before any provisions take effect. “The fundamental principle is clear. For the provisions of the proposal to be implemented, the terrorist organization must completely cease to exist,” Gurlek stated, emphasizing that “all weapons and ammunition under its control must be destroyed completely and irreversibly.” Security institutions will determine compliance, with confirmation by the National Security Council (MGK) and publication in the Official Gazette, according to the minister.

A board chaired by the vice president will oversee implementation, while parliament will establish a monitoring commission to track progress and offer recommendations when necessary. “We are witnessing a historic stage together through our Terror-Free Türkiye vision on the path toward making the Century of Türkiye the century of justice,” Gurlek said. The minister thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairperson Devlet Bahceli, and the 360 lawmakers who supported the proposal's submission to parliament on Wednesday, describing the legislation as essential to eliminating the grounds on which terrorism could again be exploited.