The peace process between the Turkish state and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) is heading into a new phase after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that a draft bill regarding the dissolution of the banned armed PKK will be submitted to parliament in the coming days. Meanwhile, the party’s jailed leader, Abdullah Öcalan, called for establishing a legal framework that ensures the participation of all parties and sets the foundation for a comprehensive political and legal process.
Speaking on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, following a cabinet meeting, Erdogan stated that the legislation on the dissolution of the PKK would be sent to parliament “in the coming days.”
The PKK had announced in May 2025 its decision to disarm and dissolve itself in response to a call by its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Öcalan, following decades of armed conflict with the Turkish state. Ankara and its Western allies designate the group as a terrorist organization.
Öcalan: A Legal Framework Accounting for All Is Required
Shortly before Erdogan’s announcement, the Imrali delegation of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) issued a statement dated July 21, 2026, revealing details of the meeting between the delegation and Abdullah Öcalan on July 20 on Imrali Island. This marked their first comprehensive meeting following a long period of disruption.
The statement explained that the meeting addressed political developments in the region, the construction of a democratic society, the future of the peace process, and details of the proposed “framework law” intended to regulate the upcoming phase.
The statement quoted Öcalan as saying:
“Our determination to take the necessary steps, guided by the spirit of the February 27 call, and to resolve the issue within the framework of the law of brotherhood, remains unchanged.”
He added that Kurds and Turks share a historical partnership that should be transformed into a permanent legal foundation, emphasizing that the current stage necessitates “establishing a legal basis that respects the sensitivities of all parties.” He called for abandoning “ordinary, simplistic, or narrow approaches that do not serve the future, and working together to build a shared life.”
He also stressed the need to launch a legal and judicial process based on the report of the Parliamentary Commission for Democracy, Brotherhood, and National Solidarity, and to work toward “completely removing arms and war from the equation and opening an entirely new page.”
Öcalan affirmed that “the Kurdish-Turkish alliance forms the cornerstone of the shared future of Anatolia,” noting that legal reforms could provide a lasting guarantee for this alliance within a democratic republic built on freedom and equality. He added:
“History presents us with an opportunity to build a shared life and open a completely new page based on justice and equality, and I am fully confident that we will seize and utilize this opportunity together.”
For its part, the Imrali delegation described Öcalan’s call as “historic,” confirming its intention to continue dialogue with all concerned parties, chief among them the Turkish Parliament, to push the process toward a lasting resolution based on the “law of brotherhood.”
Firat News Agency: “Framework Law” Is the Core of Negotiations
In a report published by Firat News Agency, which is close to the PKK, the agency considered the July 20 meeting a pivotal milestone in the path of the “peace and democratic society process” after a two-month halt in meetings.
According to the report, the period of non-contact with Öcalan witnessed negotiations between the state delegation, Öcalan, and the Imrali secretariat to reach a consensus on contentious issues, primarily the scope of the “framework law” and whether it would encompass all members of the movement—including leadership, detainees, and politicians residing abroad.
The report noted that among the prominent issues on the table was providing free living and working conditions for Abdullah Öcalan, which the Kurdish movement and several political circles consider an essential prerequisite for the success of the process.
The report added that the official side was leaning toward postponing the legal settlement until October. However, Öcalan considered any delay to carry significant risks, making the issue a focal point of tension prior to the July 20 meeting.
According to the report, the meeting resolved these differences, and the postponement proposal was rejected. It outlined expectations that the passage of the law would lead to the release of a large proportion of detainees, permit the return of politicians abroad, and grant returning guerrilla fighters political and social organization rights.
Conversely, the report pointed out that certain individuals serving aggravated life sentences and a number of guerrilla commanders might not be covered under the current law, suggesting that their continued presence in safe zones could serve as a “guarantee for the positive continuation of the process.”
The report also noted that the handling of Öcalan’s status will serve as an indicator of the peace process’s seriousness, warning that any regression on this front could damage trust in the political track.
A New Phase Awaits Parliament
The Firat News Agency report concluded that the “framework law” represents the legal beginning of a new phase in the peace process and will serve as the primary reference point for subsequent legislative amendments. These include integration issues, local administration, constitutional reforms, and the recognition of Kurdish identity in the constitution, alongside the gradual integration of guerrilla fighters into political life.
The report stressed that the success of the next phase will depend on the role of the Turkish Parliament in enacting the legislation, as well as continued negotiations, public pressure, and the participation of pro-democracy political forces, as key factors shaping the trajectory of the process moving forward.
Note: This text is translated from the original Arabic version… Read the Arabic version:Click here
