The bill was proposed by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), after a number of opposition legislators who support the Kurdish call for more autonomy in the southeastern Anatolia region were investigated for "inciting unrest and circulating terrorist propaganda" in January.
Once Erdogan signs the bill into effect, 138 lower house lawmakers from all four parliamentary parties will be prosecuted to face 667 criminal proceedings lodged against them, with over 100 of these lawmakers representing the opposition.
The controversial law will most likely cause even more tensions in the country’s southeast.
Severe clashes between the Turkish Armed Forces and the PKK have been arising sporadically in Turkey since July. In November, Ankara launched the anti-PKK campaign in Diyarbakir. A curfew entered into force the following month amid growing violence between the militants and the Turkish military.
