'Terror' investigation against Green Left MP immediately after taking office

Click to read the article in Turkish

The Green Left (Yeşil Sol) Party secured a sweeping win in Hakkari with a voting rate of 62.45%, winning all three seats in the Kurdish-majority province in the parliamentary vote on May 14.

The party's candidates, Vezir Coşkun Parlak, Öznur Bartın, and Onur Düşünmez, got their certificates of election yesterday.

However, on the same day, the Rize Chief Public Prosecutor's Office initiated an investigation against Parlak on charges of "providing financial support to a terrorist organization."

Parlak is among the 20 people who are being investigated, according to a statement on the website of the Rize Provincial Security Directorate. They are accused of providing "financial assistance" to prisoners at the Rize Type-L Closed Prison.

Five detentions

As part of the investigation, five individuals were detained in operations conducted in İstanbul, Van, Mardin, Kars, and Diyarbakır yesterday, and a warrant was issued for one person. The statement noted that proceedings regarding the other 13 individuals were underway.

The statement further mentioned Parlak: "Moreover, it has been determined that a suspect (V.C.P.) was elected as a member of Parliament from the Greens and the Left Party of the Future for Hakkari Province in the 28th General Election held on May 14, 2023, and the proceedings regarding their case are being carried out by the Rize Chief Public Prosecutor's Office."

"Criminalization attempt"

Parlak, speaking to bianet, stated that the investigation was initiated based on an action that wouldn't even be considered a crime, highlighting the fact that he was being investigated right after being elected.

He said, "Initiating an investigation before our legislative activities in the parliament have even started demonstrates how reckless the ruling party has become.

"This picture also reveals the helplessness of the single-man regime disguised as a political party that has garnered all the power of the state. They are trying to criminalize us even before we enter the parliament."

"They cannot obstruct our solidarity"

Parlak recalled that thousands of HDP members are being held as "hostages" in prisons, adding, "Engaging in solidarity with them is considered a crime. Because the AKP is seeking to criminalize our struggle for democracy and freedom by politicizing the judiciary. However, no matter what they do, they cannot obstruct our just and legitimate solidarity."

Pointing out that unlawful actions have been taken against him in the past and that he was acquitted in a case where he was detained for 10 months, Parlak emphasized, "We will continue our struggle for justice against those who are responsible for these unlawful practices." (NT/VK)