Lawsuit over HDP’s anti-nuclear press statement

* Photo: Mezopotamya Agency (MA)

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A lawsuit has been filed over the statement held by the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) about the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant during the party's visit to Mersin as part of its "Job and Daily Bread Meetings."

17 people who attended the press statement have been charged with "violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations." The first hearing will be held at the Gülnar Penal Court of First Instance on October 28.

Katırcıoğlu's file separated

As reported by Mezopotamya Agency (MA), the fourth "Job and Daily Bread Meeting" of the HDP as part of its "Justice for All" campaign was held in the Eastern Mediterranean Mersin province in March.

Meeting the people of the province as part of this program, the HDP delegation made a statement for the press, raising concerns about the environmental problems caused by the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, the construction of which was ongoing in the Gülnar district.

Of the people who attended this anti-nuclear statement for the press on March 11, 29 people, including HDP İstanbul MP Erol Katırcıoğlu, faced an investigation on the grounds that they allegedly violated the Law no. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations.

The indictment prepared by the Gülnar Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has been accepted by the Gülnar Penal Court of First Instance.

The indictment demanded that 29 people, including HDP MP Katırcıoğlu, HDP Ecology Co-Spokespersons Menekşe Kızıldere and Naci Sönmez, HDP Mersin Provincial Co-Chair Gülbahar Şofer and Mersin Antinuclear Platform (NKP) members, be penalized for violating the Law no. 2911.

Noting that a statement could be made without a notification as well, the prosecutor contradicted oneself in the indictment, saying that the HDP did not get a permission for the statement for the press.

While an indictment was issued against the 17 people identified by the Gendarmerie Intelligence Branch, it was requested that the 12 unidentified people's files be separated and the investigation continue.

HDP MP Katırcıoğlu's investigation file was sent to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office's Bureau of Parliamentarians. However, the Bureau gave a decision of non-jurisdiction for the file and returned it to the Gülnar Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. (AS/SD)