Investigation against 5 HDP MPs

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA) - Archive

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Van Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation against five MPs of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).

HDP Ağrı MP Berdan Öztürk is now facing an investigation over a speech that he made in a press conference led by the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Provincial Organization in Van on January 8.

Van MPs Sezai Temelli, Muazzez Orhan Işık, Tayip Temel and Murat Sarısaç are investigated over their social media messages.

The MPs are charged with "degrading the Turkish nation, the State of the Republic of Turkey, the institutions and bodies of the state" and "provoking the public to hatred and hostility" as per the Turkish Penal Code.

The chief public prosecutor's office in Van has sent the investigation files to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Parliamentary Crimes Investigation Bureau with a decision of lack of jurisdiction.

Summaries of proceedings against 9 MPs

Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued summaries of proceedings against HDP Co-Chair Pervin Buldan and eight MPs on February 19, seeking to lift immunity of the following MPs from the party:

HDP Co-Chair, İstanbul MP Pervin Buldan, Group Deputy Chairs Meral Danış Beştaş and Hakkı Saruhan Oluç, Diyarbakır MP Garo Paylan, İstanbul MP Hüda Kaya, Van MP Sezai Temelli, Mardin MP Pero Dundar, Mersin MP Fatma Kurtulan, İzmir MP Serpil Kemalbay Pekgözegü.

The summaries of proceedings against the HDP MPs have been sent to the Ministry of Justice to be referred to the Parliament.

CLICK - Prosecutors seek lift of immunity for HDP co-chair, eight deputies over 2014 Kobanê protests

(EKN/SD)