Turkey drafts law to enable PKK militants to return–Reuters

ANKARA — Turkey is preparing a special law that would allow thousands of PKK members and civilians to return to the country from northern Iraq as part of ongoing negotiations aimed at ending four decades of conflict, Reuters reported.

According to a senior Middle East official and a source from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, the draft law would provide legal protection for those returning, while stopping short of a blanket amnesty. Ankara is reportedly considering sending some senior PKK commanders to third countries instead of allowing them to enter Turkey.

The initiative is seen as one of the final and most sensitive stages of a peace process launched approximately one year ago.

A turning point after PKK’s disarmament announcement

The PKK announced in May that it had decided to disarm and disband following a call from jailed leader Abdullah Öcalan. In July, PKK fighters symbolically burned weapons, and the group later declared that fighters were leaving Turkish territory.

If completed, the move would mark the end of a conflict that has killed over 40,000 people since 1984.

Bringing PKK members home is described as “the last major hurdle” in the peace process.

The draft law: No general amnesty, phased returns

The senior Middle East official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the current plan could reach parliament as early as late November.

The proposal under discussion includes:

• A first wave of around 1,000 civilians and non-combatants returning from Iraqi camps.

• A second wave of approximately 8,000 PKK fighters, after individual security screenings.

• Senior PKK figures — around 1,000 individuals — would not be accepted back into Turkey, and may instead be relocated to third countries, potentially in Europe.

Negotiators fear excluding senior cadres could fuel future radicalization; the Turkish side views it as a necessary security measure.

Ankara: No general amnesty

Numan Kurtulmuş, head of the parliamentary reconciliation commission, said legal steps would only be taken after Turkey confirms that PKK has fully completed its dissolution:

“Once security and intelligence services verify that the organization has truly laid down its arms, Turkey will enter a new phase of legal regulation.”

The DEM Party confirms that the government is working on a PKK-specific law, not a general amnesty.

Tayip Temel, DEM’s deputy co-chair:

“A special law is being prepared to ensure the democratic and social reintegration of PKK members. The law will cover everyone — civilians and fighters alike.”

Another DEM source told Reuters that different categories of returnees will face different legal procedures, including possible investigations or trials.

Human rights groups: A historic opportunity

Human Rights Watch called on lawmakers to use the peace process to reform restrictive laws that have long criminalized non-violent Kurdish political activity.

HRW’s Hugh Williamson said:

“The commission has a unique opportunity to help shape a post-conflict society.”

Why now?

Analysts point to three main reasons:

1. PKK has formally announced disarmament — a first in its history.

2. Regional geopolitics have shifted:

   • Iraq wants PKK presence reduced.

   • Turkey seeks a new security architecture in Syria and Iraq.

3. Domestic political normalization — improving relations with Kurdish voters has become strategically important for Ankara.

If successful, this would be the most significant peace initiative since the 2013–2015 “Solution Process,” which ultimately collapsed.