Residents in Turkey’s mainly Kurdish-populated southeastern region reacted with a mix of relief, joy, and uncertainty after parliament approved a conditional pardon for thousands of Kurdish militants, offering them a potential path toward integration into normal life in Turkey.

Background

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, waged a long-running insurgency before announcing last year that it would lay down its weapons. The new law will suspend some prison sentences for convicted PKK members and postpone ongoing investigations and trials against others for five or 10 years, depending on the severity of the alleged offenses.

Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in favor of the legislation, which is aimed at advancing a peace effort between the Turkish state and the PKK. However, the measures will only come into effect after Turkish authorities have verified that the group has fully disarmed.

Local Reaction

Residents in Diyarbakir, the region’s main city, expressed hope that the new law will bring peace and prosperity to a region that has lagged behind economically. Ali Akdogan, a 70-year-old retiree, said he was happy about the news and believed it would bring stability and economic growth to the region.

Hasan Gecti, a 56-year-old shop owner, also welcomed the news but noted that other issues, such as greater Kurdish rights, have not been addressed. Kurds have been calling for broader use of their language in education and public services, along with greater political rights, including an end to the government’s practice of ousting elected mayors and replacing them with government-appointed officials.

Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.