Rights defenders demand justice for HDP’s Gergerlioğlu

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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Since he was stripped of his MP status on March 17, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Kocaeli MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu has refused to leave the Parliament and started a "justice vigil."

Amid statements of support for Gergerlioğlu, both from Turkey and abroad, a group of rights organizations have also released a joint statement in support and solidarity, defining the situation as a "picture of shame."

The rights groups have briefly said:

'A picture of shame for democracy'

"We stand with Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu. He is at the Parliament to represent all citizens as per Article 80 of the Constitution; it is a picture of shame for our democracy that his right of deputyship is seized.

"He was given a sentence for posting a news report which was reported in the press years ago and is still not faced with an investigation; it is obvious that this sentence given for such a reason has nothing to do with legal norms and that it is a political decision.

"This decision aims to silence an MP who defended the rights of aggrieved people from every background with his voice appealing to consciences.

"We stand with Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu's struggle for rights, law and democracy and expect the Constitutional Court to examine his application as soon as possible and give a ruling of right violation."

The undersigned rights groups: 2017 Bodrum Citizens Initiative, 78 People Initiative Ankara Assembly, Ankara Freedom for Thought Initiative, Dialogue Group, East-Southeast Associations (DGD) Platform, Association for Monitoring Equal Rights (EŞHİD), Rights and Justice Platform, Human Rights Agenda Association, Punto 24 independent Journalism Association (P24), Turkey-Germany Cultural Forum, Citizens' Initiative, Citizenship Association, Union for Democracy (DIB).

Why was he stripped of MP status?

HDP Kocaeli MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu was sentenced to 2 years, 6 months in prison on charge of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" on February 21, 2018 on the grounds of a social media post from 2016. This ruling given by the Kocaeli 2nd Heavy Penal Court has recently been upheld by the 16th Penal Chamber of the Court of Cassation.

Speaking shortly after this ruling was handed down, Gergerlioğlu said that the verdict was "political", adding, "Strip searches, abductions, tortures... Some people got disturbed by us talking about all these."

He also made an application to the Constitutional Court. However, the final ruling of the court was read out at the Plenary Session of the Parliament on March 17, 2021 and he was stripped of his MP duty. He did not leave the Parliament in protest, starting a justice vigil. (EMK/SD )