Politics
April set to be critical for progress in terror-free Türkiye plan
Media reports say that a comprehensive draft on the next steps for the terror-free Türkiye initiative for disarmament of the PKK terrorist group will be made public in April. Reports come amid an expected meeting of the parliament speaker with representatives of political parties this week to discuss the current stage in the initiative.
Disclosure of the draft report in full will be just the beginning of a parliamentary process to respond to the PKK’s announcement last year that it would dissolve itself, after more than four decades of violence. Parliament is expected to draft new laws or amend the existing ones for leniency to members of the terrorist group who agree to turn themselves in.
So far, the initiative has been a series of apparently unilateral steps by the PKK, which started burning weapons in a symbolic move after announcing its dissolution. Authorities have treaded carefully, both not to offend families of the PKK’s victims and to make sure that the PKK fulfills its promises to abandon arms. Currently, the disarmament process is being monitored by Turkish intelligence. The PKK is spread across Iraq, Syria and Iran, and its members may be allowed to return to Türkiye if the initiative succeeds. To ensure returns, Türkiye is required to offer leniency in the sentencing of the PKK members who did not participate in acts of terrorism.
Parliament’s National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Committee, set up exclusively for the terror-free Türkiye initiative, has recently wrapped up its work of hearing from all sides affected by PKK terrorism. The committee prepared a comprehensive report to guide Parliament on future bills. A report by the Türkiye newspaper quoting sources from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), says President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan would hold talks with security authorities and his aides to make a decision on future legal processes and issue instructions for new bills by April if the intelligence authorities certify full disarmament of the PKK and its withdrawal from regions it occupied in Iraq’s north.
The terror-free Türkiye initiative was launched in 2024 by government ally Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) when its leader, Devlet Bahçeli, implied that the government should facilitate access to the terrorist group PKK’s jailed ringleader, Abdullah Öcalan, so that he could call on the PKK to lay down arms. Bahçeli’s proposal was endorsed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who had earlier hinted at the initiative with messages of unity between Turks and Kurds. The PKK has long justified its campaign of terrorism as a fight for the rights of Kurds. Both Bahçeli and Erdoğan have repeatedly said that ending terrorism and maintaining unity were essential for Türkiye’s “home front” in the face of Israeli aggression in the region, pointing to the fact that Israel may target Türkiye next as part of its expansionist policies. Öcalan responded positively to Bahçeli’s call and urged the PKK to lay down arms. In July 2025, the PKK started the disarmament process with a ceremony in northern Iraq.
“This is not like 2013 or any other process,” Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş said earlier this month, referring to government-sponsored efforts in the past to end PKK terrorism. The “reconciliation process,” as it was known, sought to curb the PKK’s influence on the Kurdish community and address the rights issues the terrorist group exploited. It ultimately collapsed in a few years, but Türkiye pursues a more dedicated approach to the matter now. Unlike the previous process, where the PKK consented to a unilateral “truce,” the group this time agreed to dissolve itself. Yet, full dissolution is yet to be confirmed.
Kurtulmuş, who also chairs the terror-free Türkiye committee at Parliament, said another failure in ending the existence of the PKK would inflict a heavy toll on “politics.” “We may face a direr situation. We are now going through times of conflict in the region, and there are circles ready to stoke the burning fire,” he said.
“Nothing is incidental in this region. The process, which began with the U.S. invasion of Iraq, triggered another process for ethnic and sectarian division. Many countries suffered as a consequence. We have to revert this. Türkiye paid a heavy toll in terrorism, and we have to act swiftly. Zionism is raising the stakes, and we cannot ignore this. They try to deal a final blow to the region. They tried it with civil wars in Lebanon and Syria, and they tried it with swift regime changes in the region. They planned the final stage of their plan by targeting Gaza. The Greater Israel Project’s main target is Türkiye. So, we have to reinforce the country, the home front,” he said.
He noted that Türkiye already had laws for offering lenient sentencing for members of terrorist groups cooperating with authorities. “But it is the first time that a terrorist group has decided to dissolve itself. Thus, we need new regulations. We agreed on legal proceedings for members of the group if they apply for lenient sentencing or parole, to have a court record. This will prevent the perception that (PKK members) would benefit from an amnesty. Sentencing will remain, but they will be released based on parole conditions if they turn themselves in and renounce membership of the PKK,” he said.
Türkiye’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) is entering a new phase of internal struggle as reinstated Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu moves to consolidate authority following a court ruling that annulled the party’s 2023 congress, while tensions rise over possible disciplinary measures against rivals Özgür Özel and jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu.
Attention has shifted to Kılıçdaroğlu’s expected address at CHP headquarters, where he is set to return publicly for the first time since the court decision restored his leadership and overturned the congress that had brought Özel to power.
The ruling, issued under the legal doctrine of “absolute nullity,” invalidated the November 2023 congress and reinstated CHP’s pre-congress administration on an interim basis until a new congress can be organized.
The decision triggered a fierce power struggle between competing factions and culminated days later in clashes outside party headquarters after riot police removed Özel’s administration from the building.
Authorities later opened an investigation into the unrest.
While both Kılıçdaroğlu and Özel say a congress is ultimately unavoidable, disagreement over timing and legitimacy has widened the divide.
“We will hold a congress, friends. Can there be a party without a congress?” Kılıçdaroğlu said this week.
“Of course, for this to happen, the congress must be held on legal grounds.”
His remarks underscored the legal argument increasingly advanced by his supporters: that party structures remain in transition and that any leadership contest must wait until court procedures and injunction questions are resolved.
That position has strengthened Kılıçdaroğlu’s institutional standing inside the party.
The Party Council meeting expected in early June has been postponed, with CHP headquarters citing delays in formal notification procedures concerning council appointments. Kılıçdaroğlu also informed lawmakers that the parliamentary group meeting would not be convened until further notice.
The moves effectively place key party organs on hold while legal and organizational questions are reviewed.
The authority dispute now extends beyond the chairmanship itself.
Özel, who was elected parliamentary group chair by CHP lawmakers after the court ruling, maintains that his political legitimacy remains intact and continues to call for a rapid congress or a broader leadership vote involving party members.
“There is a completely unlawful decision here,” Özel said during a visit to İzmir, arguing that restrictions linked to the ruling should not prevent him from exercising political authority.
He has also rejected suggestions of a split.
“No one should leave the party, no one should resign,” Özel told supporters.
Yet Kılıçdaroğlu’s camp increasingly appears focused on institutional consolidation before any vote takes place.
Party figures aligned with Kılıçdaroğlu argue that the CHP cannot organize a credible congress under the existing delegate structure, citing court findings and ongoing investigations tied to alleged irregularities during the 2023 leadership contest.
Former CHP figure Gürsel Tekin has argued that a renewed congress process beginning with local delegate elections could take several months to complete.
Others close to Kılıçdaroğlu have spoken of the need for what they describe as a “purification” period before a new contest is held.
The debate has also revived questions over disciplinary authority.
Figures within the Kılıçdaroğlu camp have increasingly voiced calls for disciplinary scrutiny targeting individuals they hold responsible for the confrontation surrounding party headquarters and the wider crisis.
Among the names frequently mentioned are Özel and Imamoğlu, whose political alliance helped shape the 2023 leadership transition.
No formal expulsion proceedings have been announced.
However, party sources say the High Disciplinary Board, restored alongside the pre-congress administration, could become a decisive institution should disciplinary referrals emerge.
The dispute reflects deeper questions about who currently exercises legitimate authority inside the CHP.
Under party bylaws, the chair holds broad powers to represent and manage the organization, convene party bodies and oversee coordination between headquarters and the parliamentary group.
The Party Council, meanwhile, functions as the highest decision-making organ after the congress, shaping strategy, approving candidate lists and possessing the authority to call an extraordinary congress.
The Central Executive Board serves as the party’s executive arm, while disciplinary mechanisms remain separate from day-to-day administration.
That institutional architecture has turned legal interpretation into a political battleground.
Supporters of Özel insist the crisis should be resolved quickly through a fresh vote reflecting delegate or member will. Kılıçdaroğlu allies counter that rushing to a congress before legal questions are settled risks deepening instability and reproducing the same disputes that led to the court intervention.
The rivalry has increasingly spilled into internal party communications and public messaging.
Reports of heated exchanges among CHP lawmakers and separate factional coordination channels have highlighted the deteriorating atmosphere inside the party, while accusations of political pressure and influence campaigns continue to circulate between rival camps.
Both sides deny wrongdoing.
For now, the central question confronting Türkiye’s main opposition party is no longer whether a congress will take place, but under whose authority and according to which timetable.
As Kılıçdaroğlu prepares to reappear at headquarters, his camp appears to hold the stronger institutional position. Yet Özel retains support among segments of the parliamentary group and party base, setting the stage for a prolonged struggle over the CHP’s future leadership and political direction.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Türkiye and Pakistan are working together with “brotherly countries” to help end ongoing regional conflicts and restore peace and stability, underscoring the importance of mediation efforts and expressing hope for positive outcomes from negotiations.
The remarks came as Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed bilateral ties and regional developments amid heightened tensions across the region, according to a statement made by the Presidential Communications Directorate.
Erdoğan said Ankara and Islamabad would continue taking steps to deepen Türkiye-Pakistan relations across all sectors, reaffirming the close partnership between the two countries.
The Turkish president also congratulated Sharif and the people of Pakistan on Eid al-Adha.
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli called Republican People’s Party (CHP) former chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and CHP parliamentary group leader Özgür Özel on Thursday to extend Eid al-Adha, also known as Qurban Bayram, greetings, according to statements from the opposition party.
A statement from CHP headquarters said Bahçeli phoned Kılıçdaroğlu to congratulate him on the Islamic holiday.
Separately, Özel’s press office said the MHP leader also called the CHP parliamentary group leader to convey his Eid al-Adha wishes.
The statement added that Bahçeli was the first political figure to congratulate Özel on the Qurban Bayram holiday.
The holiday exchange came amid an ongoing debate within the CHP over a recent court case seeking absolute nullity regarding the party’s 2023 congress that brought Özel to the leadership. The case has fueled political tensions and speculation over a possible legal challenge to the legitimacy of the congressional process and the current party administration.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended Eid al-Adha prayers on Wednesday at Istanbul’s Grand Çamlıca Mosque, using the annual religious occasion to underline themes of unity, devotion, and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Erdoğan departed early morning from his home in Kısıklı, Üsküdar, and arrived at Grand Çamlıca Mosque, where he was greeted by citizens gathered outside. He paused briefly to speak with attendees before entering the mosque for the Eid prayer.
Inside, he joined worshippers in the main prayer hall, standing in line with the congregation as imam-hatip Hafız Kerim Öztürk led the service.
The president remained for the sermon that followed, observing the traditional khutbah delivered to mark the start of Eid al-Adha, known in Türkiye as Kurban Bayramı.
After prayers concluded, Erdoğan addressed worshippers inside the mosque, framing Eid al-Adha as a religious moment centered on submission, sacrifice, and closeness to God. He referenced the story of Prophet Ibrahim and Ismail as the foundation of the holiday’s meaning, saying the spirit of surrender to God should remain a guiding principle for Muslims.
He called for enduring unity and stability among believers, offering prayers for health and peace, and expressing hope that the sense of brotherhood associated with Eid would extend across generations. His remarks repeatedly returned to the idea that collective strength depends on shared faith and solidarity.
A significant portion of his address focused on the wider Muslim world, particularly conflict zones. Erdoğan cited Gaza and Palestine as central examples, saying the current conditions there reflected a deeper test for the Islamic world.
“We are seeking this submission today in Gaza and in Palestine,” he said, linking the religious message of Eid to resilience amid conflict and describing unity as essential to strength and survival for Muslim communities globally.
Following the mosque address, Erdoğan stepped outside to greet journalists and continue his Eid message in a more informal setting. He described Eid as a period defined by compassion, mutual respect, and social solidarity, while emphasizing that Kurban Bayramı carries a distinct spiritual meaning tied to sacrifice and devotion.
He drew a parallel between the ritual of sacrifice and the idea of drawing closer to God, while also referencing the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Pointing to the gathering at Arafat, he said the unity seen during Hajj should serve as a model for global Muslim cohesion, especially as pilgrims begin returning home.
Erdoğan again turned to Gaza during the press interaction, describing the situation as a defining moral issue of the holiday period. He referred to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “tyrant” and expressed hope that global Muslim communities would respond with stronger collective resolve. He said he expected a clearer stance against the suffering in the region and called for an end to violence.
He closed his remarks with prayers for peace and unity across the Islamic world, expressing hope that Eid would become a catalyst for greater solidarity and cooperation among Muslim nations.
Following the exchange with reporters, refreshments including chocolates and simit were distributed to members of the press.
The president was accompanied by a senior delegation that included former parliament speaker İsmail Kahraman, Youth and Sports Minister Osman Aşkın Bak, Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Communications Director Burhanettin Duran, Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, Istanbul Police Chief Selami Yıldız, and several senior ruling party officials. Businessman Acun Ilıcalı was also present among attendees.
Erdoğan’s appearance at Çamlıca Mosque continues a longstanding practice of marking major Islamic holidays in prominent Istanbul mosques, often paired with broader political messaging on domestic cohesion and international affairs.
Eid al-Adha is being observed across Türkiye from May 27 to May 30, with public sector holidays extended for the period.
Türkiye’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) will hold a congress once a court-issued injunction is lifted, the party’s newly reinstated leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said Wednesday.
“We will hold a congress, friends. Can there be a party without a congress? A congress will be held,” Kılıçdaroğlu told reporters in response to questions about demands for a party congress.
“Of course, for this to happen, the congress must be held on legal grounds. There is an injunction decision. Once the injunction decision is lifted, the convention will be held, so there is no problem,” he added.
The CHP has descended into chaos after a May 21 court ruling that overturned a 2023 party primary which elected Özgür Özel as leader and reinstated Kılıçdaroğlu, setting off competing leadership claims between the rival camps. Three days later, riot police evicted Özel’s administration from the CHP’s Ankara headquarters after the ousted leader refused to leave. Authorities launched a probe into the violence that unfolded during the eviction. Özel has since been named the party’s parliamentary group chair.
Asked whether the party would have to wait until the Supreme Court of Appeals issues a final and binding ruling after reviewing the case, Kılıçdaroğlu said the issue would be discussed with legal experts within the party.
“We will meet with our lawyer friends, sit down and talk. What is the situation? How can we hold the convention as soon as possible? How can we organize it? We will work on these issues,” he said.
Responding to a question about Özel’s proposal to elect a party chair through the votes of 2 million members, Kılıçdaroğlu said the procedures were clear.
“It is already clear how the chairman is elected. You cannot bypass the convention. The party’s chairmen are elected by congress,” he said.
Özel and his allies are pushing for an early extraordinary congress to settle crisis, Turkish media reported earlier this week.
Despite the crisis, Özel moved quickly to scotch rumors he might leave the CHP to form a new political faction and urges his fellow party members to stay put.
“We have no intention of forming a new party,” he told journalists after attending prayers in Manisa, his hometown near the western resort of Izmir, on the first day of Eid al-Adha, also known as Qurban Bayram.
“”There are those who say ‘we should resign’, but no one should leave the party or resign. We will resolve this issue,” he said, repeating calls for a leadership primary “as soon as possible”.
Türkiye is preparing to expand its e-Hearing system to broader areas of the judiciary as part of an ongoing digital transformation drive aimed at making legal proceedings faster, more accessible and more efficient.
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said Friday the new phase of the initiative would widen the use of remote hearings beyond first-instance courts and extend them to regional courts of appeal, allowing a wider range of participants to join proceedings online.
Under the planned expansion, lawyers, defendants, expert witnesses, specialists and witnesses will be able to take part in hearings through digital platforms. The reform is also expected to cover procedural steps such as preliminary hearings, interrogations, witness testimony, oaths and letters rogatory.
The Justice Ministry said work on the expanded system accelerated after Gürlek pledged to continue technological reforms designed to reduce lawyers’ workload and speed judicial processes.
“We will continue to develop digital capabilities so that our lawyers can dedicate their energy to their professional activities instead of going back and forth to the courthouse,” Gürlek said.
The initiative forms part of a broader judicial modernization effort centered on digital services and technology-assisted legal procedures. Recent reforms have emphasized shortening trial times, improving access to justice and strengthening institutional efficiency.
The e-Hearing system operates through the National Judiciary Informatics System, or UYAP, Türkiye’s long-running digital judicial network designed to manage court files, legal correspondence and case proceedings electronically. UYAP has been developed over the past two decades to reduce bureaucracy, accelerate proceedings and support paperless judicial administration.
The latest expansion follows several technology-focused initiatives introduced by the ministry in recent months. Authorities recently announced the rollout of the “e-Avukat” application enabling secure video meetings between lawyers and inmates, while Gürlek also unveiled plans for a domestic artificial intelligence-supported UYAP decision support system capable of rapidly analyzing precedent rulings and complex case files.
Ministry officials said judges may also be granted authority to order e-Hearings on their own initiative when deemed necessary, a step intended to further streamline proceedings and improve courtroom efficiency.
Lawyers have generally welcomed the expanded use of digital hearings, particularly for reducing travel burdens and easing scheduling pressures.
The ministry says the reforms are part of a longer-term effort to build a faster and more accessible justice system through technological innovation and digital legal services.
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