The “Process Law” Has Been Enacted: What Does Law No. 7595 Introduce?

The Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration, commonly referred to as the "Process Law," was adopted as Law No. 7595 on 10 August 2026.

The Law establishes a special legal mechanism that will apply following a determination by the security authorities that the PKK/KCK terrorist organization and all formations connected with it have ended their de facto existence and surrendered all weapons and ammunition under their control, and following the publication in the Official Gazette of a National Security Council decision confirming that determination.

The framework covers the deferral of certain criminal investigations and prosecutions, the deferral of the execution of sentences, protective measures, cases pending appellate or cassation review, and other procedures relating to the implementation of the process.

Which offences are covered by the Law?

Law No. 7595 applies to:

• establishing or leading the PKK/KCK terrorist organization,

• membership in the organization,

• knowingly and willingly assisting the organization,

• making propaganda for the organization,

• offences committed within the scope of the organization's activities, and

• offences committed for the benefit of the organization and regulated under Law No. 6415 on the Prevention of the Financing of Terrorism.

Under the Law, the term "organization" refers to the PKK/KCK terrorist organization and all formations connected with it.

What condition must be met for the Law to be applied?

For the principal provisions concerning the deferral of investigations, prosecutions and the execution of sentences to be applied, the security authorities must determine that the organization has ended its de facto existence and surrendered all weapons and ammunition under its control, and a National Security Council decision confirming this determination must be published in the Official Gazette.

Accordingly, the adoption of the Law and the commencement of the application of the deferral mechanism to individual cases constitute separate stages.

For how long will investigations and prosecutions be deferred?

Under Article 3 of the Law, provided that the required determination has been made and the National Security Council decision confirming it has been published in the Official Gazette:

• investigations and prosecutions concerning offences punishable by a maximum sentence of fifteen years or less will be deferred for five years;

• investigations and prosecutions concerning offences punishable by more than fifteen years' imprisonment, life imprisonment or aggravated life imprisonment will be deferred for ten years.

The statute of limitations will not run during the deferral period. The case file and evidence capable of proving the offence will also be preserved throughout that period.

With respect to property and assets subject to confiscation, a liquidation order will be issued together with the deferral decision and the relevant property and assets will be transferred to the Treasury.

Decisions of deferral issued by a public prosecutor may be challenged before a Criminal Judgeship of Peace within two weeks. A court decision deferring prosecution may likewise be challenged within two weeks.

Which offences are excluded from the deferral of investigations and prosecutions?

The Law expressly excludes certain offences from the deferral mechanism.

Accordingly, investigations and prosecutions concerning intentional killing committed within the scope of the organization's activities, as well as offences committed before 1 June 2005 that are punishable by life imprisonment or aggravated life imprisonment, will not be deferred.

Investigations initiated after the National Security Council decision

Where an offence falling within Article 1 of the Law was committed before the relevant National Security Council decision was published in the Official Gazette, an investigation initiated after that date will be subject to the authorization of the Board.

What happens if a new terrorism offence is committed during the deferral period?

If one of the terrorism offences is committed during the deferral period, the deferral decision will be revoked and the investigation or prosecution will continue.

If the proceedings subsequently result in a conviction, execution of the sentence will not be deferred under Article 6 of the Law and the conviction will produce all of its legal consequences.

If, on the other hand, the deferral period expires without the commission of a terrorism offence, a decision not to prosecute will be issued at the investigation stage, while the criminal proceedings will be dismissed at the prosecution stage.

What will happen to detention and judicial control measures?

Detention and judicial control measures previously imposed in relation to offences for which a deferral decision is to be issued under the Law will be separately reviewed.

Depending on the stage of the proceedings, this review will be carried out by:

• the competent judge or court,

• the Regional Court of Appeal, or

• the relevant Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation.

Where the applicable conditions are met, the relevant protective measures will be lifted.

The Law therefore does not provide for detention or judicial control measures to terminate automatically; instead, they are to be reviewed by the competent judicial authority.

What will happen to cases pending appellate or cassation review?

In relation to offences for which a deferral decision is to be issued under Article 3 of the Law, a decision to quash will be rendered in cases pending appellate or cassation review.

How will the execution of sentences be deferred?

Article 6 of the Law establishes a separate deferral mechanism for the execution of sentences imposed in cases falling within the scope of the Law.

Accordingly:

• the execution of sentences imposed on persons sentenced to a total term of fifteen years' imprisonment or less will be deferred for five years;

• the execution of sentences imposed on persons sentenced to a total term of more than fifteen years' imprisonment, life imprisonment or aggravated life imprisonment will be deferred for ten years.

The deferral will be ordered by the enforcement judge.

Deferral of execution will not prevent the enforcement of confiscation orders, and the limitation period applicable to the execution of the sentence will not run during the deferral period.

Decisions of the enforcement judge concerning deferral may be challenged.

Who will not be eligible for deferral of execution?

The following persons will not be eligible for deferral of the execution of their sentences:

• persons convicted of intentional killing committed within the scope of the organization's activities; and

• persons sentenced to life imprisonment or aggravated life imprisonment for offences committed before 1 June 2005.

What happens at the end of the execution deferral period?

If one of the terrorism offences is committed during the deferral period, the enforcement judge will revoke the deferral decision and order the continuation of the execution of the sentence.

If the deferral period expires without the commission of such an offence, the sentence will be deemed to have been executed.

Deferral decisions will be monitored by the Offices of the Chief Public Prosecutor.

Can loss of rights be removed?

Law No. 7595 also contains provisions concerning the removal of loss of rights arising from investigations, prosecutions and convictions.

Where the Board considers it necessary, it may request:

• the Criminal Judgeship of Peace or the competent court to remove, with all their consequences, loss of rights arising from investigations or prosecutions; and

• the enforcement judgeship to remove, with all their consequences, loss of rights arising from convictions.

The competent judicial authority will decide on the request, and its decision may be challenged.

In relation to loss of rights arising from convictions, such a request may be made only after:

• two years have elapsed from the date of a five-year deferral decision; or

• three years have elapsed from the date of a ten-year deferral decision.

Which Board will oversee the implementation of the Law?

The implementation, monitoring and assessment of activities carried out under the Law will be undertaken by a Board chaired by the Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye.

The Board will consist of:

• the Minister of Justice,

• the Minister of Foreign Affairs,

• the Minister of Interior,

• the Minister of National Defence,

• the Secretary-General of the Presidency,

• the Head of the National Intelligence Organization, and

• the Secretary-General of the National Security Council.

The Board may make assignments within subcommittees in order to facilitate the progress of the process at the level of the organization. It may also conduct periodic assessments concerning the complete dissolution of the organization on the basis of observation reports and, where necessary, request judicial, administrative or legislative measures.

The Board will regularly inform the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye of its activities. A Monitoring Commission will also be established by the Presidency of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye to monitor activities carried out under the Law.

How is the surrender of weapons and materials regulated?

Weapons, ammunition, vehicles, equipment, explosives and all other materials brought or declared by members of the organization falling within the scope of the Law will be recorded.

The procedures and principles governing these operations will be determined by the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of National Defence, after obtaining the views of the security authorities.

What must be done to benefit from the Law?

Persons wishing to benefit from the provisions of the Law must submit a written notification within six months following the publication in the Official Gazette of the National Security Council decision referred to in Article 1.

The notification may be submitted to:

• the Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor at the person's location; or

• institutions designated by the Board.

Accordingly, the six-month period does not begin on the date on which the Law was adopted. It begins on the date of publication in the Official Gazette of the National Security Council decision confirming the determination required under the Law.

How is the liability of persons performing duties under the Law regulated?

Duties assigned under the Law must be carried out promptly by the relevant public institutions and authorities.

The Law further provides that persons performing duties assigned within the scope of its purpose and activities will not incur legal, administrative or criminal liability by reason of the performance of those duties.

When will the Law enter into force?

Under Article 11, Law No. 7595 will enter into force on the date of its publication.

The provisions of the Law will be implemented by the President of the Republic.

However, the principal provisions concerning the deferral of investigations, prosecutions and the execution of sentences can be applied only after the security authorities determine that the organization has ended its de facto existence and surrendered the weapons and ammunition under its control, and after the National Security Council decision confirming that determination is published in the Official Gazette.

Conclusion

Law No. 7595 on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration establishes a special and conditional deferral mechanism concerning investigations, prosecutions and the execution of sentences in respect of the offences specified in the Law in connection with the PKK/KCK and related formations.

Application of the principal mechanism under the Law depends on a determination by the security authorities that the organization has ended its de facto existence and surrendered the weapons and ammunition under its control, together with the publication in the Official Gazette of a National Security Council decision confirming that determination.

The Law also regulates the review of protective measures, the quashing of cases pending appellate or cassation review, the removal of certain loss of rights, and the requirement for persons seeking to benefit from the Law to submit written notification within the prescribed period.

Whether the Law applies to a particular investigation, prosecution or conviction must be assessed by considering together the alleged offence, the date of the offence, the type and duration of the sentence, the procedural stage of the case and the other conditions laid down in the Law.