A bill on “Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration,” prepared as part of Turkiye’s “Terror-Free Turkiye” process, has been approved by the Justice Committee of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye (TBMM).

Axar.az reports, citing Anadolu, that the bill aims to establish procedures concerning investigations, prosecutions and the enforcement of sentences following a determination by security authorities that the PKK/KCK terrorist organization and all organizations affiliated with it have ended their actual existence and surrendered all weapons and ammunition under their control, followed by the publication of a confirming decision by the National Security Council in the Official Gazette.

The proposed legislation covers crimes including establishing or leading the PKK/KCK, membership in the organization, knowingly and intentionally providing assistance to it, and spreading its propaganda, as well as crimes committed as part of the organization’s activities and certain terrorism-financing offenses.

Under the bill, subject to the specified conditions, investigations and prosecutions for covered offenses punishable by up to 15 years in prison would be postponed for five years, while those involving sentences of more than 15 years, life imprisonment or aggravated life imprisonment would be postponed for 10 years. Similar provisions would apply to the enforcement of sentences imposed for covered offenses.

The bill also establishes a mechanism to oversee and coordinate the implementation of the process, with a board chaired by the Vice President and comprising the ministers of Justice, Foreign Affairs, Interior and National Defense, as well as senior officials from the Presidency, National Intelligence Organization and National Security Council.

The bill is intended to provide a legal framework for the complete dismantling of the PKK/KCK and its affiliated organizations once the required conditions are met.

The legislation, which is a key component of the process referred to by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan when he said, “We are about to reach our destination,” was approved following 17.5 hours of deliberations by the TBMM Justice Committee.