Turkish parliamentary committee for resolving Kurdish issue submits final report

The Turkish parliamentary committee tasked with resolving the Kurdish issue met on Wednesday for the final vote on the report's draft. The report comprises seven main sections. 

New legal framework

The report stated that the most crucial phase of the process is the PKK's disarmament. It emphasized that this disarmament process must be monitored and verified by state security units, and that it would not only silence the weapons but also mark the beginning of a new political and legal era.

In this context, the drafting of a special transitional law for the dissolution and disarmament process was proposed. It was noted that this law should have a framework that promotes democratic politics and be comprehensive enough to manage both the process and the post-process period.

Return and democratic policy

The report included a proposal for an amendment that would allow individuals who reject weapons and violence to return safely and on an equal footing. It noted that the aim was to bring the issue to a legal and political level and strengthen the democratic political sphere.

Legal guarantees for the participants in the process

The report proposed providing legal guarantees to individuals who participated in the committee's work, shared their opinions, and performed tasks within the process. The need to legally protect the work of these individuals was emphasized.

The right to hope and reforming the sentencing system

The report assessed the right to hope from a human rights perspective and proposed a review of sentencing legislation to align it with the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights and the Constitutional Court.

It also highlighted the need to reassess the mechanism for deferring sentences for sick and elderly prisoners, to adopt trials without pre-trial detention as a fundamental principle, and to strengthen the fairness of sentencing.

The mechanism of following up and preparing reports

In order to manage the process properly and positively, it was proposed to establish a follow-up and reporting mechanism within the relevant bodies, with this mechanism monitoring the progress of implementation and evaluating the extent to which the objectives would have been achieved.

Reforming the system for appointing agents

The report recommended that, in the event of the mayor being sacked from office, instead of appointing an agent, an election should be held within the municipal council to choose a new mayor.