Decision to lift MP Çelik's immunity published in Official Gazzette

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The parliamentary decision to lift the immunity of independent Mardin MP Tuma Çelik was published in the Official Gazette today (October 9).

Çelik denied the allegations, saying that he was subjected to an "extrajudicial execution" and he was the one who was really aggrieved, according to the decision. Çelik demanded that his immunity be preserved.

After the discussion was completed, the parliament decided by the majority of votes to lift Çelik's legislative immunity in order to "ensure the continuation of the trial" in relation to an investigation against Çelik by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

What happened?

Facing charges for sexually assaulting a woman, Mardin MP Tuma Çelik resigned from the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) on July 18, 2020.

In his resignation letter, he said, "My work within the body of the Parliament and among the people must have disturbed some circles to such an extent that slanders, accusations and threats have been developed against my personality in a different way and in different dimensions. In addition to this, a woman started to blackmail me by casting aspersions.

"That this summary of proceedings has been put on the agenda with political motives while hundreds of others are pending does not change the fact that what is told is a lie. Knowing that the incident will be turned into a political plot after these developments, I have felt the need to inform the public. For this reason, I have decided to resign from the HDP so that my party will not be harmed and this allegation will not be abused.

"This needs to be known that if the investigation launched against me based on this allegation that has nothing to do with the reality ends in a fair trial, I believe that I will definitely be acquitted."

Tuma Çelik was discharged from the HDP in the party's Central Disciplinary Board Meeting on July 20. (TP/VK)