MHP lawmaker calls for closure of Constitutional Court over HDP case  

Duvar English

Celal Adan, a lawmaker from the parliament's 27th term whom the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) nominated once again for the upcoming elections, has called for the closure of the Constitutional Court for not yet deciding on the case of the Peoples’ Democratic Party.

During a visit to the Istanbul Union of Craftsmen and Artisans' Chambers (İSTESOB) on May 9, Adana argued that dictatorship and tyranny do not exist in Turkey.

“For example in their remarks, they (referring to the opposition) are saying, ‘Turkey has become polarized.’ Would polarization exist in a country with a dictator?’ There would only be a single view. Second, a party’s leader (referring to İYİ Party leader Meral Akşener) is saying ‘Long live liberty, damn tyranny,’ is telling the crowd ‘Go to the polls, punish (the rulership) at the ballot.’ Would democracy exist in a place with tyranny?” Adan was quoted as saying by Demirören news agency. 

During his speech, Adan also claimed that the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) supports terrorism. “Therefore we want the HDP’s closure. And we want the closure of the Constitutional Court which is not shutting down HDP. Our chairman announced this. Why did he announce it? This is the reason,” he said.

A prosecutor filed the case against the HDP in March 2021, seeking a ban over alleged ties to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. The HDP denies such links.

The Constitutional Court accepted the indictment against the HDP in June 2021 after a years-long crackdown under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's rule in which thousands of HDP members have been tried on mainly terrorism-related charges. The case is currently being reviewed by the top court which asked for the HDP’s verbal defense on April 11. The party was unable to submit their defense in time due to their election works.