Politics
Parliament to pass terror-free Türkiye law before summer recess
On a scorching day with temperatures floating around 31 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit), lawmakers in Parliament will convene one last time before a summer recess that will end in October. On their agenda is a topic as hot as the Ankara weather: a terror-free Türkiye. Deputies are expected to give overwhelming support to a draft bill that involves the disarmament of the PKK terrorist group and reduced sentencing for nonviolent members of the group.
The passing of the law is a highly critical stage in the “terror-free Türkiye” initiative, which has so far advanced through apparently unilateral moves by the PKK after it announced its dissolution last year.
The Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integrity was approved on Saturday by Parliament’s Justice Committee after a quarrel in which lawmakers supporting and opposing the bill engaged in harsh verbal arguments.
On Monday, Parliament’s General Assembly will convene to discuss the draft law, roughly five days before the anniversary of the PKK’s first attack in Türkiye in 1984. Since then, the terrorist group has been involved in the killing of tens of thousands of people across the country, as well as troops conducting counterterrorism operations abroad. Türkiye changed its policy toward the PKK over the following decades, though it firmly opposed its existence due to the group’s separatist ambitions.
As the terrorist group started diminishing in power and influence, Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the government-allied Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), informally launched the “terror-free Türkiye” initiative on Oct. 1, 2024, the day Parliament opened its new term. This unexpected foray by a nationalist politician primarily known for advocating the execution of the PKK’s jailed ringleader Abdullah Öcalan evolved into a state initiative over time. Bahçeli’s call for Öcalan to urge his group to lay down arms met a response in the PKK’s 2025 announcement to that effect. The MHP leader, who has limited his attendance at public events due to frail health, is expected to attend the General Assembly to see what his call has culminated in.
The draft bill will come into force once authorities verify that the PKK and all of its regional affiliates have fully dissolved and handed over all weapons and munitions to security forces, and this verification is published in the Official Gazette. The bill covers crimes including founding and running the PKK, aiding and abetting the group, producing propaganda for it, and funding its operations. Suspects who were prosecuted or investigated for those crimes will have their sentences deferred for five to 10 years. The deferral period will be longer for those prosecuted for crimes carrying prison terms of over 15 years.
PKK members involved in killings, as well as those prosecuted and sentenced for crimes bearing sentences like life imprisonment before June 1, 2005, will be exempt from deferrals. This includes most senior cadres of the PKK currently in hiding in northern Iraq, as well as Abdullah Öcalan, who was earlier sentenced to life imprisonment and is currently held in an island prison near Istanbul.
Those benefiting from deferrals will have certain political and civil rights suspended for two to three years. PKK members seeking to benefit from deferrals will be allowed to apply at Turkish diplomatic missions in their current countries of residence.
Türkiye will also set up two boards to monitor the process: a monitoring board chaired by the vice president and a parliamentary board comprised of 17 members. Authorities will log every weapon, piece of ammunition, explosive and piece of equipment declared by PKK members into a registry to monitor the dissolution process.
During Saturday’s session, the Justice Committee approved the bill, which bore the signatures of 367 lawmakers, with votes in favor cast by the AK Party, the MHP, the PKK-aligned Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) and the Republican People’s Party (CHP). Lawmakers from the New Party (YP) were divided over the bill, with one lawmaker voting “yes” while two other party members on the committee abstained. However, YP lawmaker Sezgin Tanrıkulu, who observed the committee’s session, announced that they would vote in favor once the bill reached the General Assembly.
The Good Party (IP) did not participate in the vote, although its members clashed with proponents of the bill during Saturday’s session. Addressing the committee, Mehmet Ökmen, director general of legislation at the Ministry of Justice, said the monitoring board would not issue any judicial decisions and would only be tasked with making suggestions regarding the process. Stating that under the Turkish legal system there is no deprivation of rights during the investigation and prosecution phases, Ökmen noted that exceptions exist under certain special laws, citing the Legal Profession Law as an example. Explaining that under this law, deprivation of rights exists while prosecution, meaning the court process, is ongoing, Ökmen noted that there are also deprivations of rights under other statutes in Turkish law.
Following the approval of the bill, Cüneyt Yüksel, chair of the Justice Committee, said they had completed work of historical significance.
“Together, we have crossed a crucial threshold toward leaving behind a heavy burden that our nation has carried for more than 40 years. I believe the determination displayed here will hold an exceptional place in Türkiye’s political and social history,” he said.
Abdülhamit Gül, deputy parliamentary group chair for the AK Party, echoed his remarks. “Today, we have carried out the first stage of an important key, an important lock opening Türkiye’s doors. We are talking about a legislative proposal submitted with 367 signatures. According to our Constitution, the signatures of 200 members of Parliament are sufficient even to submit a constitutional amendment proposal. Today, a legislative proposal has come before our Parliament with a strength greater than that of a constitutional proposal,” he said.
Türkiye on Friday firmly rejected claims that its new joint defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan conflicts with NATO commitments or creates a rival alliance, calling such assertions a deliberate attempt to manipulate public perception.
The Presidential Communications Directorate issued the statement in response to claims circulating on social media that the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement signed by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan contradicts NATO’s Article 5 and establishes a parallel alliance structure.
The directorate described the claims as “completely false,” saying their origin and intent were evident and accusing those behind them of seeking to shape public perception through misinformation.
It stressed that the agreement does not contradict any of Türkiye’s existing international alliance commitments, including its obligations as a NATO member.
Instead, Ankara views the pact as a complementary cooperation mechanism designed to strengthen regional security, the directorate said.
“Türkiye’s development of regional partnerships is not an alternative to its NATO membership,” the statement said.
The directorate also rejected portrayals of the agreement as an aggressive military bloc, saying it is a defense-oriented arrangement aimed at strengthening deterrence.
It said the pact does not target any third country or alliance and is instead intended to deepen defense industry cooperation, military training and technology sharing while contributing to regional stability.
The directorate urged the public to disregard what it described as baseless claims and manipulative social media posts surrounding the agreement.
Turkish sources quoted by local media outlets confirmed on Friday that a defense pact was signed with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan departed for Saudi Arabia in the morning in a visit announced only hours ago.
The agreement between the three Muslim states brings together oil-rich Saudi Arabia and nuclear power Pakistan as well as Türkiye, which has NATO’s second-largest army and a rapidly growing defense industry. It would increase cooperation and deterrence at a time of increased regional uncertainty and threats from the war in Iran.
“The agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression, and stipulates that any armed attack against any one of the three states shall be regarded as an attack against them all,” the Pakistani Foreign Ministry and Turkish Presidency’s Communications Directorate said in identical statements.
“It further provides for the enhancement of all aspects of defense cooperation among the three States,” the statements said, adding that the agreement was called the “Mecca Joint Defense Agreement.”
Earlier, Turkish media reports said it is likely to allow joint military exercises and training, technology transfers and the sharing of intelligence.
Saudi Arabia, whose critical infrastructure and oil facilities have come under attack as part of the war in Iran, has been looking to diversify its defense partnerships. In September, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defense pact that also defines any attack on either nation as an attack on both. The agreement also comes amid rising tensions between Türkiye and Israel over Gaza and other regional conflicts, including the war in Iran and Lebanon.
A Turkish government official described the agreement as “purely defensive in nature,” saying the sides have pledged mutual support only for defense. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the issue publicly, insisted that the deal is “not against any specific actor” and was open for other regional countries to join. The agreement does not abrogate or replace any bilateral or multilateral agreements between these states or with other states and organizations, the official added.
In Islamabad, defense analyst Abdullah Khan described the agreement as a natural evolution and formalization of decades of strategic ties among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye, saying a changing regional security environment and the evolving nature of warfare had increased the need for closer cooperation. Khan said the pact was “purely defensive” and not directed against any country, with collective deterrence intended to raise the cost of aggression and prevent conflict.
The analyst said three countries bring complementary strengths to the arrangement: Pakistan’s military experience and expertise in managing escalation, Saudi Arabia’s economic strength and regional influence, and Türkiye’s advanced defense technology and industrial capabilities. Sharif arrived on Thursday for a three-day visit accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir. Erdoğan traveled to Saudi Arabia on Friday. In addition to discussing ways to help defuse tensions between the United States and Iran, the three leaders were expected to explore expanding trade, economic ties and broader security cooperation, officials said. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said that while Sharif’s visit took place against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Gulf, it extends beyond the immediate crisis and is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and boosting coordination on regional and international issues. Pakistani officials said the pact meant that any attack against one of the parties to the agreement was an attack on all, which would prompt joint defensive action.
The three countries have been the subject of months of speculation about a possible strategic alliance.
Pakistan has sought to mediate efforts to end the U.S.-Iran war, while Türkiye has played a diplomatic role in negotiations aimed at ending the war in Gaza. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan had already announced a joint defense pact in 2025, a move that drew attention because Pakistan is the Muslim world’s only nuclear-equipped state.
The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has referred Ilkay Çiçek, the mayor of the western town of Menderes in the province of Izmir, to its disciplinary board, seeking his expulsion from the party. The party’s secretary-general, Rıfat Turuntay Nalbantoğlu, said in a social media post that Çiçek was facing disciplinary action because “his conduct and attitude did not comply with the party’s principles.” Çiçek was detained on Tuesday as part of an investigation into alleged corruption at the municipality, but it was his WhatsApp correspondence with a girlfriend that made him even more notorious.
The WhatsApp correspondence shows Çiçek telling his girlfriend that he was “walking cash” after she asked why he kept sending her photos of banknotes. “I got paid for whatever I do,” he says in one message. Çiçek then goes on to say that he was receiving “bribes left and right” and would not be caught because it was all done through “those two idiots,” he told his girlfriend, referring to two alleged associates who controlled the flow of bribes to the municipality.
Other messages between Çiçek and his girlfriend include one in which he writes that he is “too h…” and would “f… even my driver and staff.” Çiçek initially claimed the messages were AI-generated when portions of the correspondence first surfaced a few months ago. He later changed his account and instead complained about the “leak” of his “private conversations.”
Along with corruption allegations, the CHP was mired in scandals involving the same mayors involved in illicit affairs, like Çiçek, a married man. Özkan Yalım, the CHP’s mayor in the western province of Uşak, was caught in a hotel room with a mistress in Ankara when police officers stormed the location to nab the mayor in an operation against widespread corruption at the municipality a few months ago. Yalım was also expelled from the CHP after the anti-corruption operation and his other extramarital affairs, including recruiting and putting his mistresses on the payroll at the municipality, were exposed.
The new defense pact between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan does not target any country and is open to other regional nations seeking peace and stability, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Friday, positioning the agreement as a broader framework for regional security cooperation.
Erdoğan made the remarks after Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed the Joint Defense Agreement in Mecca, where he met Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The president traveled to Mecca at the invitation of Mohammed bin Salman for talks with the two leaders.
Erdoğan emphasized that the agreement, built around the principle of collective deterrence, should not be interpreted as an alliance directed against another state.
He said the pact remains open to the participation of “all brotherly countries” committed to promoting peace, prosperity and stability in the region.
The agreement also reaffirms the right to self-defense enshrined in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, Erdoğan said.
Under the pact, the three countries aim to deepen security and defense cooperation, develop joint defense industry projects and strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
Erdoğan said Türkiye would continue pursuing its vision of regional ownership while advocating the resolution of conflicts and crises through dialogue and diplomacy based on respect for international law.
He expressed hope that the talks in Mecca and the newly signed agreement would benefit the wider region.
The three countries have been the subject of months of speculation about a possible strategic alliance.
Pakistan has sought to mediate efforts to end the U.S.-Iran war, while Türkiye has played a diplomatic role in negotiations aimed at ending the war in Gaza. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan had already announced a joint defense pact in 2025, a move that drew attention because Pakistan is the Muslim world’s only nuclear-equipped state
Somalia on Friday hailed a new joint defense agreement signed by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, calling the pact a landmark move to bolster collective security and deepen defense cooperation.
In a statement, the defense ministry said the agreement establishes a strategic partnership capable of addressing shared security challenges and advancing long-term defense cooperation among the three countries.
The ministry expressed confidence that the pact would make a significant contribution to regional peace and stability while reinforcing the principles of cooperation, solidarity and shared responsibility.
It added that the agreement would serve the interests of the region’s peoples and support international peace and security.
The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement was signed Friday following a summit in the Muslim holy city of Mecca attended by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The agreement between the three Muslim states brings together oil-rich Saudi Arabia and nuclear power Pakistan as well as Türkiye, which has NATO’s second-largest army and a rapidly growing defense industry. It would increase cooperation and deterrence at a time of increased regional uncertainty and threats from the war in Iran.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday hailed the new joint defense agreement with Türkiye and Saudi Arabia as a historic step toward strengthening regional peace and security.
“Honoured to sign the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement alongside my dear brothers, HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and H.E. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,” Sharif said in a post on X.
He described Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan as “three brotherly nations, united by faith, friendship and a shared resolve for peace and security.”
Sharif expressed hope that the agreement “will remain a shield of peace for generations to come” and contribute to the prosperity of the three countries as well as the wider Muslim world.
He also praised Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, for his “untiring efforts and utmost dedication,” which he said contributed significantly to the conclusion of the defense agreement.
On Friday, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a joint defense agreement at a trilateral summit in Mecca, pledging to strengthen collective security, deepen defense cooperation and promote peace and stability in the region and beyond.
The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement was signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Shehbaz Sharif during the summit held at Al-Safa Palace.
According to information obtained from Turkish officials, the agreement is a defense-oriented cooperation arrangement that targets no country and is designed to strengthen commitments to regional and global peace, stability and prosperity through burden-sharing and a common security approach.
The agreement aims to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression and stipulates that an armed attack against any one of the three countries shall be regarded as an attack against them all, the officials added.
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