Turkey passes amnesty law for PKK members as Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan sign Mecca defense pact
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Turkey passes amnesty law for PKK members as Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan sign Mecca defense pact
Turkey passes law to release PKK members if group disarms and dissolves
Continuation
Turkey’s parliament approved a landmark law on Monday offering conditional amnesty to members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a move tied to the group’s declared dissolution and disarmament last year. The bill, titled the “Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration,” passed with 467 votes in favor out of 592, according to official figures .
The legislation suspends sentences for PKK-related offenses, including membership, support, and propaganda, under the condition that the group and its affiliates have fully disbanded and disarmed. Turkish media estimate that around 3,500 detained PKK members could be released in the coming months, with provisions also extending to Kurdish exiles in Europe if Ankara approves their return . The law does not apply to those convicted of violent crimes, including killings.
The bill’s passage follows negotiations between the Turkish government and imprisoned PKK founder Abdullah Öcalan, who has been in custody since 1999. The push for reconciliation gained momentum after the PKK’s symbolic burning of weapons in 2025 and its subsequent declaration of dissolution, a shift analysts link to the group’s weakened position in Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024 .
Reactions to the law have exposed deep divisions. The pro-Kurdish DEM party supports it as a first step but demands further reforms, while the ultranationalist IYI party fiercely opposes it. During parliamentary debates, IYI delegate Ayyuce Turkes, daughter of the Grey Wolves’ founder, criticized the government for rushing the bill and referred to Öcalan as a “baby killer,” a term long used by Turkish authorities and media . The debate escalated into a physical altercation, underscoring the polarization over the peace process.
Separately, on Friday, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan signed a defense pact in Mecca, stipulating that an attack on any member state would be considered an attack on all. The agreement was formalized during a joint appearance by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at Friday prayers . Analysts note the pact combines Saudi Arabia’s economic power, Turkey’s NATO-aligned military, and Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, potentially reshaping regional security dynamics . Some observers, however, question its longevity, citing the collapse of a similar Saudi-led alliance in 2015 .
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