Türkiye may finalize terrorist PKK disarmament by June, no amnesty for Ocalan

The first phase of Türkiye’s “A Türkiye Without Terror” roadmap is expected to conclude by June, with the PKK terrorist group scheduled to hold a key congress in early May, according to Türkiye Daily.

Security sources indicate that the group may declare its dissolution during the meeting, with a phased surrender of weapons anticipated to follow over the next month. Once disarmament and dissolution are complete, legal and political steps could come under discussion.

Despite the possible disbandment of the PKK terrorist organization, no action will be taken toward granting amnesty to PKK ringleader Abdullah Ocalan. He will remain imprisoned on Imrali Island, although his conditions of confinement may be reassessed.

Detailed preparations are underway regarding the disarmament process, including designated handover points, methods of surrender, and tracking procedures. Authorities expect the weapon collection phase to be finalized by the end of June.

If the process proceeds as planned, the Turkish Parliament may take up relevant legal and political reforms before its July recess. These may include amendments to the Penal Execution Law and the Anti-Terror Law, aimed at building a legal framework aligned with the post-conflict period. However, no legislative steps will be considered until the PKK completes full disarmament and declares dissolution.

Justice Ministry eyes new sentencing alternatives

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice is preparing a new judicial reform package that includes alternative sentencing options such as weekend incarceration, nighttime detention, and home confinement. Although current regulations exclude terrorism-related offenses from home detention, officials note that the issue may be revisited depending on how the process unfolds.

Any legal amendments would be revised to support the goals of the “A Türkiye Without Terror” initiative. There are currently around 25,000 inmates serving terrorism-related sentences in Türkiye. Of these, approximately 17,000 are affiliated with the PKK terrorist organization and similar groups, while the remaining 8,000 are linked to the FETO terrorist organization.

If changes are adopted, home detention may become available to terminally ill inmates, women with children, and elderly prisoners over the age of 65 who require assistance for daily life.