ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Turkish parliament's bill allowing the reintegration of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) members who lay down arms is a "turning point" toward fostering coexistence and achieving peace in Turkey and beyond, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani said Wednesday, hailing the landmark law.
“I warmly welcome the passage of the Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration in the Turkish Parliament,” the Kurdish President said, affirming that “this courageous step represents an important turning point toward achieving lasting peace, security, and stability in Turkey and the entire region.”
President Barzani emphasized his longstanding belief in “peace and dialogue” as “the best options” to address thorny issues and that “the era of arms and military solutions is over.”
“This law presents a great opportunity to build trust and peaceful coexistence among all components of Turkey,” he said, urging all sides to “support it and work for the success of peace.”
Turkish lawmakers on Monday passed the landmark bill with 468 votes in favour, 88 against, and six abstentions in Turkey's 562-member parliament.
The legislation comprises 12 articles and establishes the legal framework for post-disarmament procedures and the reintegration of PKK members under the peace process.
The bill was jointly prepared by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and was also signed by the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), along with lawmakers from the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).
President Barzani on Wednesday reiterated his “appreciation and commendation” to Erdogan and “all the leaders and parties involved in bringing this law to fruition.”
“As always, we reaffirm the Kurdistan Region’s full support for the success of peace and stability,” the Kurdish leader concluded.
The move comes 18 months after PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan in February 2025 called on the group to lay down its arms and dissolve itself as a prelude to a political solution to the decades-long conflict with the Turkish state - a conflict that has claimed nearly 40,000 lives, mostly Kurds.
In May 2025, the group declared its dissolution and an end to its armed campaign, temporarily rebranding itself as the Kurdistan Freedom Movement and later in October, it announced the withdrawal of all its fighters from Turkey as part of its push for peace with Ankara.
Of note, while the Monday bill offers partial amnesty to PKK fighters, lawmakers did not address the fate of the group's leader, Ocalan, who has been serving a life sentence in solitary confinement on Imrali island since 1999.
