Turkish president says parliament to take up 'Terror-Free Türkiye' legal package

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that the government's "Terror-Free Türkiye" initiative has advanced without setbacks, announcing that a comprehensive legal package to address the country's terrorism problem will soon reach parliament for deliberation.

Economic cost of terrorism

Erdogan told members of his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's Istanbul organization that terrorism has cost Türkiye more than $2.3 trillion over the past four decades. He described the initiative as essential to removing this obstacle and preparing the nation for future development in an atmosphere of stability.

Legislation ready for parliament

"We have managed to bring our Terror-Free Türkiye process to this point without any setbacks," Erdogan said, adding that legislative preparations have been fully completed. He expressed hope that placing the bill on the parliamentary agenda would give fresh momentum to the process, saying the government aims to achieve a lasting solution with lawmakers' support.

Warning against 'provocations'

The president acknowledged that opponents would attempt to derail the initiative through "provocations, slander and distortions," but vowed the government would continue with "common sense, patience and determination." "Our goal is to remove the obstacle of terrorism and prepare Türkiye for the future in an atmosphere of brotherhood, unity and lasting peace," he said, speaking at the AK Party gathering in Istanbul.