Turkey is preparing legislation that would enable the return of PKK guerrillas and their families from hideouts in northern Iraq, while stopping short of granting a general amnesty for past crimes, according to a senior Middle East official and a source from a Kurdish political party who spoke to Reuters. Some high-ranking militant leaders could be relocated to third countries under the proposed plans. The measure represents a critical step in a peace initiative launched a year ago to end a conflict that has claimed roughly 40,000 lives since 1984.
The return process is expected to occur in separate waves, with civilians and non-combatants coming first, followed by fighters after individual screening, while top commanders may be sent abroad. Legislation could be introduced in the Turkish parliament as soon as the end of November, the sources said. Turkey’s intelligence agency MIT, which has led negotiations with the PKK, did not immediately comment, and the PKK also declined to respond.
The reconciliation effort gained momentum after the PKK announced in May that it would disarm and disband following directives from jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan. Symbolic weapons burning occurred in July, and the group began withdrawing fighters from Turkey last month, calling on Ankara to allow members to participate in democratic politics. Turkish officials, however, have emphasized that returns will not come with a blanket amnesty, and some returning fighters may face investigations or trials.
Numan Kurtulmus, head of Turkey’s reconciliation commission, told Reuters that legal measures will follow only after authorities verify that the PKK has fully dissolved and laid down its arms. Deputy co-chair of the pro-Kurdish DEM Party Tayip Temel said the law under discussion aims to enable “democratic and social reintegration” for all returning members, whether civilian or militant, while the possibility of relocating senior figures to third countries remains under negotiation.
Human Rights Watch urged Turkey to use the peace process as an opportunity to reform laws that have historically been used to prosecute non-violent Kurdish activists. Hugh Williamson, director for Europe and Central Asia at HRW, told Reuters that the commission “has a unique opportunity to help shape a post-conflict society and should make bold recommendations to repeal abusive laws used to silence and marginalize people.”
The proposed law could mark a decisive step toward ending decades of insurgency, easing tensions within Turkey, Iraq, and Syria, and contributing to political and economic stability for the NATO member country.
