Turkish gov't seeks to strip 10 opposition MPs, including Kılıçdaroğlu, of parliamentary immunity

The Turkish parliament has received new summaries of proceedings seeking to have legislative immunity lifted for 10 opposition lawmakers, including CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. The proposals target eight CHP MPs and two HDP MPs. The summary of proceedings against the CHP deputies concern the party's brochure named “The Political Leg of FETÖ in 21 Questions.”

Wednesday April 14 2021 06:21 pm

Duvar English

Turkey’s Justice Ministry has submitted to parliament new summary of proceedings seeking to have legislative immunity lifted of 10 opposition lawmakers, including main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.

The Joint Constitution and Justice Committee of Parliament will examine the summary of proceedings prepared by the prosecutors.

Among the targeted CHP deputies, apart from Kılıçdaroğlu, are the following names: Oğuz Kaan Salıcı, Muharrem Erkek, Yunus Emre, Veli Ağbaba, Fethi Açıkel, Faik Öztrak and Ahmet Tuncay Özkan.

The Justice Ministry is also seeking to have the immunity of two Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) deputies lifted: Ayşe Acar Başaran and Kemal Bülbül.

If parliament votes to strip the MPs of their immunity from prosecution, they will be tried by Turkish courts.

The summary of proceedings against the CHP deputies concern the party's brochure named “The Political Leg of FETÖ in 21 Questions.”

Turkish authorities refer to the Gülen network as the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ).

U.S.-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gülen was once an ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

The Gülen network ran schools, banks and media outlets in Turkey until the two men had a public falling-out in 2013.