International travel ban imposed on HDP MP

Opposition HDP lawmaker Zeynel Özen, who is also a Swedish national, has announced that an international travel ban has been imposed on him without any notification and court order.

Monday December 26 2022 09:16 pm

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Pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Istanbul lawmaker Zeynel Özen announced on Dec. 25 that he was not allowed to fly to Sweden as an international travel ban has been imposed on him.

Özen, who is also a Swedish national, said in a tweet that “When I was about to go to Sweden, that I am a citizen and where I have lived for 35 years, for a family visit, I was told that I was banned from leaving the country at the airport by the order of the Interior Ministry.”

“This completely arbitrary and vengeful practice is incompatible with a state of law without prior notification to a deputy who is actively involved in legislative activities in the parliament,” Özen said.

1- Bugün İstanbul Havalimanından vatandaşı olduğum 35 yıldır yaşadığım İsveç'e aile ziyareti için gitmek üzereyken havalimanında İçişleri Bakanlığının talimatıyla şahsıma yurt dışına çıkış yasağı getirildiği açıklandı. pic.twitter.com/sF5vaSSP9f
— Zeynel Özen (@zeynelozenhdp) December 25, 2022

On Dec. 26, Özen asked Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu and Parliament Speaker Mustafa Şentop about the ban.

“What is the reason for the ministry to impose a travel ban on me without any prior notification and court decision, even though I am a member of parliament who is actively involved in legislative activities in the Turkish Grand National Assembly and related commissions?” Özen asked while speaking at the Parliament.

Topics HDP travel ban Zeynel Özen