Turkey signs draft proposal to lift immunity of MPs

[Anthea]

Turkey signs draft proposal to lift immunity of MPs

ANKARA — Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Tuesday (April 12) a draft proposal to revoke MP’s immunity from prosecution has been signed and is ready for presentation in parliament.

Anadolu News Agency said Davutoglu made the announcement during a parliamentary group meeting on Tuesday. Reuters reported all 316 Justice and Development (AK) Party members signed the proposal.

The removal of immunity could be a danger to members of the pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP) after allegations were made that they helped Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) members with ammunition and weapons.

HDP co-leaders, Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, attended a meeting of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) held in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir between Dec. 26 - 27, 2015, during which the establishment of democratic autonomous regions was presented as a solution to the Kurdish problem.

Following the announcement, Turkish prosecutors opened a criminal investigation into the co-leaders of HDP over supporting a democratic autonomy model that could be applied throughout the country.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan backed the probe on Saturday (Jan. 2), saying the pair of leaders should “pay the price” and be stripped of their immunity.

“The statements of the two co-leaders are definitely a Constitutional crime,” he said.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday (Jan. 5), HDP Spokesman Ayhan Bilgen said Turkey was damaged in the past when immunity of some members of the Parliament was lifted.

“Some try to threaten us by lifting the immunity of HDP lawmakers,” Bilgen said. “By those threats, they try to make us regret from our suggestions.”

http://www.nrttv.com/EN/Details.aspx?Jimare=6311

[Anthea]

All 316 Justice and Development (AK) Party members signed the proposal.

Sadly, this could well be the downfall of the Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP)

The HDP were very foolhardy to show their connection to and support of the PKK on so many public occasions