MESOP MIDEAST WATCH: ERDOGAN TRIES TO DESTROY HDP PARTY / KURDISH BACKGROUND

The Office of the Parliamentary Speaker has published 40 summaries of proceedings seeking to lift the legislative immunity of 28 opposition deputies, including 24 from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP). BIANET 4-1-2022

The files were handed over to a Joint Committee formed by members of the Parliamentary Committee for Constitution and Justice.

HDP Co-Chair Pervin Buldan is among the HDP deputies who face losing legislative immunity.

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy Sezgin Tanrıkulu is also among the 28 deputies.

There is also one deputy from each of the Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP) and the Democratic Regions Party, as well as two independent deputies.

The list of the MPs:

  • HDP Co-Chair Pervin Buldan (2)
  • CHP İstanbul MP Mustafa Sezgin Tanrıkulu (1)
  • TİP Hatay MP Barış Atay Mengüllüoğlu (1)
  • DBP Diyarbakır MP Salihe Aydeniz (2)
  • Independent Muş MP Mensur Işık (1)
  • HDP Iğdır MP Habip Eksik (1)
  • HDP İstanbul MP Hakkı Saruhan Oluç (1)
  • HDP İstanbul MP Dilşat Canbaz Kaya (1)
  • HDP İstanbul MP Oya Ersoy (1)
  • HDP İstanbul MP Hüda Kaya (1)
  • HDP Siirt MP Meral Danış Beştaş (2)
  • HDP Van MP Murat Sarısaç (3)
  • HDP Van MP Tayip Temel (3)
  • HDP Van MP Muazzez Orhan Işık (1)
  • HDP Van MP Sezai Temelli (2)
  • HDP Ağrı MP Berdan Öztürk (2)
  • HDP Diyarbakır MP İmam Taşçıer (1)
  • HDP Diyarbakır MP Semra Güzel (1)
  • HDP Diyarbakır MP Garo Paylan (1)
  • HDP Şırnak MP Nuran İmir (2)
  • HDP Şırnak MP Hüseyin Kaçmaz (2)
  • HDP Muş MP Şevin Coşkun (1)
  • HDP Şanlıurfa MP Ayşe Sürücü (2)
  • HDP İzmir MP Murat Çepni (1)
  • HDP Ağrı MP Abdullah Koç (1)
  • HDP Ağrı MP Dirayet Dilan Taşdemir (1)
  • HDP Batman MP Necdet İpekyüz (1)
  • HDP Adana MP Tülay Hatımoğulları Oruç (1)

The process of lifting legislative immunity

Prosecutors send summaries of proceedings against legislators who face charges to the Ministry of Justice.

The ministry sends the filings to the Presidency and it refers them to the parliament’s Joint Committee of Constitution and Justice.

If the committee decides to put the summaries on its agenda, a preparatory committee will be set up for each file.

The joint committee has one month to discuss decisions of preparatory committees.

If the committee votes for the lift of immunities, the summaries of proceedings will be sent to the parliament’s general assembly.

Lawmakers whose immunities are sought to be lifted will testify before the parliament.

A simple majority of votes is required for the lift of the immunity of an MP.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its ally Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) have a majority in both the committee and the general assembly.