Turkey MPs back historic law on reintegrating PKK militants

Turkey's parliament on Monday approved legislation offering a conditional pardon and legal protections to thousands of members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) .

After around 12 hours of debate, lawmakers voted 468 to 88 in favor of the 12-article bill, with six abstentions. It was backed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AK Party , its nationalist MHP allies and the pro- Kurdish DEM party.

The law sets out procedures for the PKK's disarmament and dissolution and the reintegration of some members into civilian life. The government has stressed that it is not a general amnesty.

Some prison sentences would be suspended, while investigations and trials could be postponed for five or 10 years depending on the offense.

If those covered commit no terrorism-related crime during that period, cases would be dropped and sentences considered served.

Around 3,500 PKK-linked detainees could initially be released, lawmakers said. Media reports suggest exiled members and fighters in Iraq and Syria could also benefit.

People convicted of intentional killings and some serving life sentences are excluded.

The measures will only come into force once Turkey's National Security Council confirms that the PKK has dissolved and surrendered all weapons.