Archive · 5 Aug 2026
Turkey to Unveil Draft Law That Would Bring PKK Peace
Turkey and a group called the PKK have been fighting for a very long time, since 1984.
The fight started because the group wanted a Kurdish state and more rights for Kurdish people.
More than 40,000 people have been hurt or killed in the fighting.
Now, Turkey wants to try to make peace.
A new law is being sent to Turkey's parliament this week.
The law would let former PKK fighters come back from hiding and join society again.
The PKK's jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan, asked the group to stop fighting, and it agreed to disarm.
Many political parties in Turkey support the new law.
But some people are not sure it will bring lasting peace, and some worry about fighters returning.
Turkey's ruling AKP-MHP alliance will submit a draft law to parliament on Wednesday that would allow the PKK to disband and thousands of former militants to return.
The bill, dubbed "national solidarity and social integration," would manage the return of fighters and civilians from hideouts in northern Iraq, covering justice system processing and social reintegration.
The conflict has killed more than 40,000 people since the PKK launched its insurgency in 1984, initially seeking an independent Kurdish state and later Kurdish autonomy and rights.
The PKK decided in May last year to disarm and disband after an appeal from jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan; the peace process began in late 2024 but stalled due to the Iran war and regional instability.
The draft law has broad support in parliament, including from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party and the main opposition, though polls show skepticism about lasting peace and sensitivities over returning former members.
- Who
- President Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AKP and MHP allies, backed by the pro-Kurdish DEM Party and most other parties, along with jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan.
- What
- A draft law dubbed "national solidarity and social integration" that would facilitate the PKK's disbandment and manage the return of former militants from northern Iraq.
- When
- Expected to be submitted to parliament on Wednesday, per a report dated August 5.
- Where
- Turkey, with returning fighters coming from hideouts in northern Iraq.
- Why
- To end a decades-old insurgency that has killed more than 40,000 people since 1984.
Supporters
Skeptics
Prospects for lasting peace
Supporters
The AKP-MHP ruling alliance, the DEM Party and most other parties back the bill as a key step toward ending the decades-old conflict.
Skeptics
Polls show some skepticism that the process will bring a lasting peace.
Return of former PKK members
Supporters
The law manages the return and social reintegration of thousands of former militants through the justice system.
Skeptics
There are sensitivities in Turkey around the return of former PKK members.
- Draft law
- Expected to be submitted to parliament on Wednesday; dubbed "national solidarity and social integration"
- Supporting parties
- AKP, MHP, pro-Kurdish DEM Party, the main opposition and most other parties
- Deaths since 1984
- More than 40,000
- Insurgency start
- 1984
- PKK disarm decision
- May last year, after an appeal from jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan
- PKK designation
- Terrorist organization in Turkey, the United States and the European Union
- Return origin
- Hideouts in northern Iraq
- Peace process start
- Late 2024; stalled earlier this year due to the Iran war and regional instability