HDP will be closed down 'both legally and politically,' says AKP's Özkan

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The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) will be closed down "both legally and politically," according to Cahit Özkan, the parliamentary group deputy chair of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

"Inshallah, we will close the HDP in the eyes of our nation. Our nation has given up hope of this party now," he told a press conference at the parliament yesterday (March 2).

"Eighty-three million people desire the closure of this party both politically at the ballot boxes and legally within the constitutional order," he asserted.

The Court of Cassation yesterday launched an inquiry into the HDP in relation to a recent indictment against nine lawmakers from the party, including its co-chair Pervin Buldan.

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The indictment concerns the deadly protests in Kurdish-majority regions in 2014 and charges party members with several offenses, including "managing a terrorist organization" and "attempted overthrow" for having allegedly orchestrated the protests.

If the Court of Cassation determines that the HDP is engaged in terrorist acts, a case for the party'S closure may be filed.

"Citizens ask us 'Why do you allow terror propaganda ... in the parliament?'," he said, adding that the AKP will vote for the lift of legislative immunity for the HDP lawmakers who have summaries of proceedings against them.

"Those who voted for the HDP didn't vote for this party to rely on Qandil [the base of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Iraq]. Because of this, the HDP will of course be politically closed and after its political closure, it will be legally closed as well," Özkan remarked. (EKN/VK)