‘Parliamentary Immunity’ Call to CHP from 4 Academics Arrested Earlier

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Four academics who were arrested for signing the declaration entitled “We will not be a party to this crime” have called on the Republican People’s Party (CHP) MPs to give signature to prevent lifting parliamentary immunities.

Assist. Prof. Dr. Esra Mungan, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kıvanç Ersoy, Assist. Prof. Dr. Meral Camcı, and Assist. Prof. Dr. Muzaffer Kaya called out to CHP MPs that “We remind you of your historical responsibility! 110 signatures is needed! You give a signature too!”

The constitutional amendment bill concerning lifting parliamentary immunities was approved in parliament. 110 MP signatures is needed for mass appeal to the Constitutional Court to annul the amendment.

“Don’t be a party to this crime”

The declaration of the four academics entitled “Our call on CHP MPs” is as follows:

“While we were imprisoned, you too are accountable to all CHP members joining Freedom Watches in front of the prisons, CHP’s women and young people of whom we have always felt support.

“Turkey has become a country in which academics, attorneys, workers, students, journalists are being frequently detained. At the end of this course, now a Turkey in which even MPs could be arrested, democracy and freedom of expression are totally annihilated is being constructed. Don’t be a party to this crime!

“While we were in prison, a considerable part of CHP MPs, provincial and district organizations gave us huge support and stood by us our freedom of expression.

“We witnessed considerable part of CHP MPs’ standing by law and saying ‘no’ against the act intending to lift parliamentary immunities of some MPs in an unconstitutional way.

“We as academics struggling for peace and democracy, urge you the CHP MPs to give signature to enable this act be brought to the Constitution Court despite all threats and crackdowns. We hope that you will side with democracy and law”. (BK/TK)