Terror-Free Türkiye law enters into force in Official Gazette

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's signature legislation establishing the Terror-Free Türkiye process entered into force Monday with its publication in the Official Gazette, creating a legal mechanism for suspending terrorism-related prosecutions once the PKK/KCK disarms and ceases operations under National Security Council oversight.

Legal framework and scope

The Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Cohesion outlines specific conditions for halting investigations, prosecutions and sentence executions tied to the outlawed PKK/KCK and affiliated groups. Security institutions must verify the organization has ended its activities and surrendered weapons and ammunition, after which the National Security Council must issue a formal decision published in the Official Gazette to trigger the suspensions.

Suspension periods extend for five years regarding offenses punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment, and for ten years concerning more serious crimes, though the measure explicitly excludes intentional homicide committed as part of terrorist activities. The provisions cover founding or leading the organization, membership, knowingly and willingly aiding the group, propaganda offenses, and terror-financing activities conducted on its behalf, while the legislation additionally mandates strict protocols for registering all surrendered materials.

Conditions for clemency

If an individual subject to suspension commits another terrorism-related offense during the designated period, the legal protection immediately dissolves and proceedings or sentence execution resume without delay. Erdogan last week described parliament's passage of the measure as an "important step" in the Terror-Free Türkiye process, adding that the government would work patiently and with determination to rid the country of terrorism "forever." If no subsequent offense occurs during the specified window, authorities may drop the prosecution entirely or deem the sentence fully served under the law's provisions.