Within the framework of the Peace and Democratic Society Process initiated by Kurdish Leader Abdullah Öcalan, the Kurdish Freedom Movement announced on October 6 that it would withdraw its forces in Turkey to the “Medya Defense Areas.” 

 

The move was emphasized as part of the second phase of the process, highlighting the need to establish a “transition law.” While the legal framework for transition and integration remains unclear, the Amed Bar Association has formed a commission to conduct legal studies in this context. The commission will focus its work under 11 headings.

 

The Bar Association’s commission will focus on the following areas: “Integration law, amnesty, and participation in social life,” “Amendments to the Penal Execution Law within the scope of the Anti-Terror Law,” “Mother-tongue education and citizenship definition,” “Strengthening local governments, unsolved murders, forced disappearances, statute of limitations in social cases,” “Evaluation and recommendations regarding Turkish Penal Code regulations in the context of the Kurdish issue,” “Regulations regarding the return of place names in Kurdistan,” “Election Law, Political Parties Law, and Associations Law,” “Recommendations on women’s and children’s rights,” “Ecology studies and proposals,” and “Judicial impartiality and independence.”

 

‘A STEP MUST NOW BE TAKEN’

 

Regarding the commission’s work, Mızrak explained that after completing studies on the 11 headings, a draft law will be prepared and presented to Parliament as a recommendation. He stated that the recent withdrawal by the PKK laid the groundwork for creating an integration law. “Over the past year, the PKK both disbanded and destroyed its weapons, taking significant steps. In its most recent announcement on October 26, it withdrew militants from Turkey, creating the necessary foundation. Now, lawmakers and government officials must take action,” Mızrak said.

 

He added that the National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission in Parliament is expected to propose a law. Mızrak said: “As Amed Bar Association, we have started studies both to contribute to the process and to examine how the Kurdish issue, which has caused 40 years of conflict, can be resolved through democratic and peaceful methods.”

 

‘COMMISSION TO CONDUCT LEGAL WORK UNDER 11 HEADINGS’

 

Mızrak elaborated on the commission’s focus: “We started this work to examine how a law can be drafted for the disarmament of PKK militants and their social, political, and social integration, and also to study how the Kurdish issue that caused these conflicts should be resolved. Additionally, we initiated work to support Turkey’s democratization. Our first study is the integration law—focusing on how former militants who laid down their arms, as well as prisoners convicted of ‘membership in an organization’ or ‘threatening the unity and integrity of the state,’ can reintegrate into society, and how refugees abroad can legally return.”

 

INTEGRATION

 

Mızrak emphasized that the most urgent task is integration laws. He said that the commission also addresses key issues of the Kurdish problem, such as mother-tongue education, citizenship definition, inequalities in the Penal Execution Law, as well as women, children, ecology, and judiciary issues relevant to Turkey’s democratization. Highlighting the importance of motivating the process, Mızrak called on bar associations in Turkey and Kurdistan, along with civil society representatives, to initiate studies that can advance the process and ensure its ownership.

 

MA / Rukiye Payiz Adıguzel