Presidential memorandums seeking lift of immunity for 25 opposition lawmakers
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Presidential memorandums for the lift of legislative immunity for 25 opposition lawmakers have been sent to the parliament's Constitution and Justice Joint Committee.
Twenty-one of the lawmakers in question are from the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), three are from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), and one is from the Democratic Regions Party (DBP), an ally of the HDP.
Nine of the HDP deputies are facing an aggravated life sentence on numerous charges, including "attempted overthrow" and "managing a terrorist organization" for having allegedly orchestrated the deadly "Kobanê protests" in Kurdish-majority provinces in 2014.
In order for the cases against MPS to proceed, the legislative immunities of them should be lifted by a parliamentary vote.
How does the process work?
The memorandums have been referred to the parliament's Constitution and Justice Joint Committee.
If the committee decides to put the summaries on its agenda, a preparatory committee will be set up for each file.
The joint committee has one month to discuss decisions of preparatory committees.
If the committee votes for the lift of immunities, the summaries of proceedings will be sent to the parliament's general assembly.
Lawmakers whose immunities are sought to be lifted will testify before the parliament.
A simple majority of votes is required for the lift of the immunity of an MP.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its ally Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) have a majority in both the committee and the general assembly.
The MPs who face losing immunity
HDP deputies: Garo Paylan, Hişyar Özsoy, Dersim Dağ (Diyarbakır), Fatma Kurtulan (Mersin), Sait Dede (Hakkari), Serpil Kemalbay Pekgözegü (İzmir), Berdan Öztürk, Dirayet Dilan Taşdemir (Ağrı), Hüda Kaya, Oya Ersoy, Züleyha Gülüm (İstanbul), Ayşe Acar Başaran, Feleknas Uca (Batman), Ayşe Sürücü (Urfa), Pero Dundar (Mardin), Sıddık Taş (Siirt), Sezai Temelli (Van),
Pervin Buldan, Meral Danış Beştaş, Garo Paylan, Berdan Öztürk, Ayşe Acar Başaran, Ayşe Sürücü, Pero Dundar and Sezai Temelli have two files against them each.
CHP deputies: Candan Yüceer (Tekirdağ), Ömer Fethi Gürer (Niğde), Ali Mahir Başarır (Mersin).
While all the HDP and DBP deputies are charged with "terrorism-related" offenses, CHP's Gürer faces "injury," Başarır faces "insult," and Yüceer faces "unauthorized recording of sound and video." (TP/VK)