14.07.2026 06:50
The end has come for the Terror-Free Turkey regulation, which is intended to be enacted before the Turkish Grand National Assembly goes into recess. AK Party sources stated that the draft does not include any provisions regarding a special status or right to hope for Abdullah Öcalan, adding that members of the organization will be evaluated individually based on the crimes they committed, and new legal regulations will only be made for those convicted of mere membership in the organization.
Work on the framework law regarding 'Terror-Free Turkey', on which the AK Party and the DEM Party have reached an agreement for it to be enacted before the Parliament goes into recess, has reached the completion stage. It has been learned that preparations, carried out under the coordination of Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and AK Party Deputy Chairman Efkan Ala, have been finalized, and opinions from opposition parties will be sought in the upcoming process.
NO SPECIAL REGULATION FOR ÖCALAN
According to information obtained, the draft contains no regulation regarding granting special status to PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, one of the most debated topics in the public eye.
AK Party sources stated, 'There will be no special regulation concerning Öcalan. There is no right to hope or status. How could status be given to someone sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment? For the right to hope to exist, the execution law must be changed. No individual-specific regulation will be made.'
PKK MEMBERS WILL BE CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO THEIR CRIMES
According to a report in Türkiye Newspaper, AK Party sources noted that the framework law will regulate the legal process concerning a dissolved terrorist organization and emphasized that organization members will not be evaluated uniformly.
Accordingly, organization leaders, those involved in bombing attacks, those who killed soldiers and police officers, those who provided aid or harbored members, organization members not involved in any crime, and those in prison will be addressed in separate categories.
Sources stated, 'They cannot all be treated with the same logic. The severity of the crime will be considered. The "terrorist organization" charge will be dropped for them, but their sentences for other crimes will continue. The main goal is to reintegrate into society those who have not been involved in any crime and the over 4,000 individuals currently imprisoned for terrorism offenses.'
SEPARATE PROCESS FOR PKK MEMBERS RETURNING TO TURKEY
While it is noted that the number of PKK members who will return to Turkey could be around 3,000 to 4,000, it was stated that legal proceedings will be applied to these individuals based on the crimes they have committed.
It was indicated that individuals processed only for the crime of being an organization member will not be imprisoned, and judicial control measures will be applied to them.
PRISON FILES WILL BE REVIEWED INDIVIDUALLY
According to the draft, only organization members in prison who have been convicted solely for the crime of 'being a member of an organization' will be eligible for release after the law takes effect.
AK Party sources shared the information, 'Our legislation stipulates additional penalties for terrorism offenses. If the terrorism charge is dropped, the penalty is essentially nullified. However, those who have killed soldiers or police officers will continue to receive sentences for the crime of manslaughter. If the remaining sentence matches the time they have already served in prison, they will be released. After the law is enacted, all files will be evaluated one by one.'
CONTACTS WITH ÖCALAN CONTINUE
Meanwhile, it was stated that state officials are maintaining contacts with Abdullah Öcalan on İmralı regarding the prepared law draft, as well as a list of PKK members who will return to Turkey and organization leaders who will go to third countries. It was also noted that a DEM Party delegation is expected to make a new visit to İmralı soon.
CONTACT TRAFFIC BY MİT DIRECTOR KALIN
In this process, it was reported that MIT Director İbrahim Kalın held meetings with the Iraqi central government, the Northern Iraq administration, and Kurdistan Patriotic Union (KYB) leader Bafel Talabani. According to security sources, the discussions covered the situation of PKK members in Iraq, studies conducted within the scope of the Terror-Free Turkey process, and technical details regarding organization members to be handed over to Turkey.
Meanwhile, DEM Party Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları stated that the Turkish Grand National Assembly should not recess before the law is enacted.