Turkey Opens a New Chapter in 42 Years of Terror and Peace Search

After 42 years of the first armed action of the terrorist organization PKK, important steps were taken in Turkey within the scope of 'Turkey Without Terror'. During this process, a framework law was discussed in the Turkish Grand National Assembly for the termination of terrorism. A few days before the anniversary of PKK's first armed action on August 15, an important step was taken for the terrorist organization to lay down its arms. In the process of 'Turkey Without Terror', which was initiated to end the presence of the terrorist organization in Turkey, critical points were experienced. The Turkish Grand National Assembly discussed the framework law for the PKK to lay down its arms. While working to overcome Turkey's approximately half-century-long problem of terrorism, the following important events occurred during this period:- November 27, 1978: The founding of the PKK was announced at a meeting in Fis village, Lice district, Diyarbakır. - August 15, 1984: The organization carried out simultaneous raids on police stations in Eruh, Siirt, and Şemdinli, Hakkari, officially starting its armed actions. - 1987-1990: The State of Emergency (OHAL) and the Temporary Village Guard system were implemented in the region. - 1992-1997: Large-scale land and air operations were carried out against the organization's camps in northern Iraq, such as the Steel Operation (1995) and the Hammer Operation (1997). The 'Turkey Without Terror' process began with President Tayyip Erdoğan's statement on September 26, 2024, after the UN General Assembly. The emphasis was on 'strengthening the domestic front'. Messages of strong constitution and national unity were given. It was evaluated as the first political signal of the process. On October 1, 2024, MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli shook hands with DEP Party deputies at the opening of the new legislative year of the Turkish Grand National Assembly. He stated, 'We are entering a new era'. On October 9, 2024, President Erdoğan said at the AK Party Group Meeting that they expected the value of the hand extended by the People's Alliance to be understood. On October 22, 2024, Bahçeli made a historic call, stating that if Öcalan announced the dissolution of the PKK, some regulations, including the right to hope, could be discussed. On October 24, 2024, DEP Party Şanlıurfa Deputy Ömer Öcalan met with Abdullah Öcalan at İmralı after approximately 43 months. On November 26, 2024, the DEP Party applied to the Ministry of Justice for a meeting with a political delegation at İmralı. On December 28, 2024, the DEP Party İmralı Delegation, consisting of Pervin Buldan and Sırrı Süreyya Önder, held their first official meeting with Abdullah Öcalan. In January 2025, the İmralı Delegation began meetings with TBMM Chairman Numan Kurtulmuş and party leaders. The second İmralı meeting took place on January 22, 2025. On February 27, 2025, after the third İmralı meeting, Öcalan's 'Call for Peace and Democratic Society' was announced to the public. A call was made to the PKK to lay down its arms and dissolve the organization. On February 28, 2025, President Erdoğan stated, 'As of yesterday, we have entered a new phase'. On March 1, 2025, the PKK announced a ceasefire. On April 10, 2025, President Erdoğan received the DEP Party İmralı Delegation at the Presidential Complex. On May 12, 2025, the PKK announced its decision to dissolve to the public. On May 18, 2025, Bahçeli proposed the establishment of a commission for the process to be carried out under the umbrella of the Parliament. On June 24, 2025, TBMM Chairman Numan Kurtulmuş held his first meeting with representatives of parties with groups in the Parliament for commission work. On July 27, 2025, Numan Kurtulmuş announced that a 51-member parliamentary commission would be established. On August 5, 2025, the Commission held its first meeting. The name was determined as the 'National Solidarity, Fraternity, and Democracy Commission'. Between August 2025 and February 2026, the commission held 21 meetings with the participation of political parties, academics, jurists, and civil society representatives. On February 18, 2026, the commission's joint report was accepted with 47 yes, 2 no, and 1 abstention. In July 2026, AK Party, MHP, and DEP Party representatives worked on the 'Turkey Without Terror' framework law proposal. On August 5, 2026, approximately 22 months after President Erdoğan's 'strengthening the domestic front' message, the 'Turkey Without Terror Law Proposal' was submitted to the TBMM Presidency. Thus, the political dialogue process was transferred to the legislative stage. On August 7, 2026, the framework law was accepted in the Justice Commission.