Turkey readies framework law to reshape PKK prosecutions

Turkey’s ruling AKP has drafted a 10‑12‑article “framework law” that will be handed to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan after the NATO summit. The bill, prepared with input from constitutional law scholars, aims to redefine the legal status of PKK members by removing them from the Terrorism Law and creating a new “weapon‑surrendering organization” category, which will set procedures, eligibility criteria and responsible institutions for lighter sentences.

The draft does not cover other terrorist groups and is intended to support the ongoing solution process for the Kurdish issue. It is slated for parliamentary review in July, but the summer recess means most deliberations are expected to shift to the new legislative session in October. The legislation would affect roughly 21,000 individuals linked to the PKK in Turkey, Iraq’s north, Syria and European prisons.