Turkey’s peace process commission to begin work in early August: Speaker

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey’s newly formed parliamentary commission - established to secure political and legal guarantees for the disarmament of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) - is set to begin its work in early August, Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus announced on Sunday.

"With the participation of all political parties, we established the Terror-Free Turkey Commission to facilitate the process of liberation from terrorism and to disarm terrorist organizations,” Kurtulmus stated. He added that the commission also aims to implement the political and legal reforms needed to support this process, noting that “at the beginning of August, we will start these measures.”

The Turkish parliament on Friday announced the establishment of the 51-member Peace Process Commission on Friday. Its mandate is to provide the necessary legal and political frameworks for the disarmament of the PKK - a key step in the ongoing peace talks between the group and the Turkish state.

The multiparty commission is expected to include 21 members from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), ten from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), and four each from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) and the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). Smaller parties will occupy the remaining seats.

Notably, the ultranationalist Good Party (IYI) has declined to participate in the commission.

Kurtulmus emphasized that the commission - formed through consensus among parliamentary parties - “will be a space where differing ideas can be debated and, ultimately, where concrete decisions serving the country’s interest will be taken.”

He described the commission’s responsibilities as including submitting “fulfilling responsibilities, submitting proposals to the Turkish Parliament” and helping Turkey “become a country where terrorism is left behind.”

The formation of the commission follows a symbolic gesture in early July, when 30 PKK fighters disarmed in the Kurdistan Region, in response to a February appeal by jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. The act was widely seen as a show of goodwill in support of the peace talks with the Turkish state.

Sezai Temelli, a DEM Party lawmaker, told Rudaw on Tuesday that the commission’s core task is to ensure “legal and political guarantees for the disarmament process.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday reiterated his support for the formation of the commission, describing it as a "first step" in the peace efforts and emphasizing his commitment to building a "terrorism-free future" for his country.

In a message released in early July - just two days before the symbolic PKK disarmament - Ocalan had also expressed optimism that the commission would make “important” contributions to peace and democracy through a “comprehensive and inclusive approach.”

While the PKK has begun disarmament efforts, the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) - an umbrella organization that includes the PKK - has called for reciprocal action from the Turkish government.

Cemil Bayik, senior PKK commander and co-chair of the KCK executive council, stated on Thursday that the group is not seeking amnesty but rather “constitutional changes” that would benefit “all democratic forces.”

Bayik argued that Turkey’s constitution - adopted after the 1980 military coup - has failed to recognize minority rights and needs comprehensive reform. “Laws in Turkey need to change, not just for the Kurds, but for all democratic forces,” he said.

Founded in 1978, the PKK initially aimed to establish an independent Kurdish state. Over the years, its focus shifted toward achieving broader political and cultural rights for Kurds in Turkey. The group is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey and several of its allies.