PKK founder Abdullah Öcalan, imprisoned on Imrali Island, is at the center of ongoing Turkish peace efforts with Kurdish militants.
Parliament has approved a bill guiding the PKK’s disarmament and the rehabilitation of its members as Turkey moves toward ending a four-decade conflict. The law suspends prosecutions for five to 10 years, with cases dropped if no terror offenses occur; Ocalan’s status is not addressed. The measure is backed by the government and DEM party and signals a historic but cautious step.
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public since taking the role after his father’s death in February. State media say talks with the US continue as Tehran hints at potential footage releases; meanwhile, Iran signals conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz as regional conflicts escalate.
The Turkish parliament has approved the so-called 'terror-free Turkey law' after 12 hours of debate, suspending prosecutions for five to 10 years to facilitate PKK fighters laying down arms. The law does not specify fate of Abdullah Ocalan. Around 3,500 detainees are expected to be released in a first phase; serious crimes are excluded.
Protests over the killing of Sami Shekhmous Hiso in Hasakeh Province have sparked prison violence at Kobani. Inmates set dormitories ablaze as security forces wage a crackdown; authorities call for restraint while Kurdish groups demand a transparent investigation.
The PKK has vacated camps in Iraq’s Metina region, a move Turkish officials say advances a peace process after parliament approved a conditional pardon law. The PKK’s leadership remains in northern Iraq, with Turkey stressing that full dissolution and disarmament are prerequisites for broader reintegration and legal measures.
Ocalan has been relocated to a newly built section of his Imrali prison. Kurdish officials say the move accelerates the peace process, while Turkish authorities stress calling for a cautious approach amid ongoing talks. The development follows Kurdish demands for better conditions and a push to end decades of conflict.