Parliament receives bill on 'Terror-Free Türkiye' legal framework

Türkiye's Parliament received on Wednesday the "Bill on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Cohesion," a proposed law designed to establish the legal framework for suspending criminal proceedings against members of the PKK/KCK terrorist organization should the group disarm and end its armed activities.

Investigation and prosecution terms

The legislation would suspend investigations and prosecutions for offenses carrying sentences of up to 15 years for five years, while proceedings involving crimes punishable by more than 15 years, life imprisonment or aggravated life imprisonment would be suspended for 10 years. The mechanism excludes intentional homicide committed within the organization's activities and offenses predating June 1, 2005 that carry life sentences, with statutes of limitations frozen during the suspension period and confiscated assets transferred to the Treasury.

Implementation structure

A Board chaired by the vice president and comprising the ministers of justice, foreign affairs, interior and national defense alongside the heads of the National Intelligence Organization and the National Security Council secretariat would oversee implementation and monitor the organization's dissolution. The Board would periodically review suspension decisions and could request removal of legal disabilities after two years for five-year suspensions and three years for 10-year suspensions. A dedicated Parliamentary Monitoring Commission would supervise activities carried out under the law, with the Board briefing legislators regularly on its work.

The bill also provides for suspending prison sentence enforcement, with inmates serving 15 years or less eligible for five-year suspensions and those serving longer terms receiving 10-year suspensions that would be revoked upon commission of new offenses. Individuals must submit written declarations within six months of the MGK decision's publication to benefit from the provisions, while officials implementing the law would be shielded from legal liability for actions taken in the course of their duties.