PM Gives Fatwa, Kurdish Opposition Says

In her party meeting speech late afternoon, Peace and Democracy Party Co-Chair Gültan Kışanak criticized PM Erdogan's tone on the parliamentary immunity issue, resembling it to fatwas that is usually associated with Islamic sharia law.

"Although it is unconstitutional to release parliamentarian immunities of a certain group of deputies, Erdogan gathered his group and published his fatwa. He is trying to impose a group release of immunity," Kışanak said.

"1994 will not repeat again"

Responding general criticism that Kurdish deputies hide under parliamentarian immunities, Kışanak said their critical attitude had nothing to with their immunities, according to a Yüksekova newspaper.

Kışanak augmented her tone of criticism: "You and your fascist junta mentality rose the national election levels to 10 percent just to prevent Kurds from being elected. You are utilizing the 1980 coup logic. We never utilized parliamentarian immunities to defend ourselves."

Kışanak warned that Kurdish people might consider boycotting the national parliament entirely, saying that 2012 differed from 1994, when elected Kurdish deputies were jailed for trying to speak Kurdish in the parliament.

"Neither Kurds nor Turks live in 1994 anymore," Kışanak said. "If PM thinks he can get away so easily like others before, he is absolutely mistaken." (EKN)