Summary of proceedings against 2 HDP MPs over 'Democracy March'

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A summary of proceedings has been issued against Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Dersim MP Alican Önlü and Iğdır MP Habip Eksik on the grounds that they joined the party's "March for Democracy".

As reported by Diren Yurtsever from Mezopotamya Agency (MA), the summary of proceedings has been sent to the Parliament, requesting that the legislative immunity of Önlü and Eksik be lifted.

The two MPs marched together with other HDP politicians and members from Edirne and Hakkari provinces to the capital city of Ankara in June 2020 as part of the party's "Democratic Struggle Program."

Accordingly, the summary of proceedings issued against HDP Dersim MP Öncü and Iğdr MP Eksik has alleged that the MPs violated the Law no. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations by "joining the demonstration under the name of 'Democracy March'." It has been further indicated that "a convoy of nearly 20 vehicles came from Batman province to Bismil district in Diyarbakır and they insisted on their demonstration despite all warnings of the officers of the Bismil District Security Directorate."

What happened?

While the HDP was planning to organize a series of events to contact the people in person as part of its "Struggle Together" program, its MPs Leyla Güven and Musa Farisoğulları were stripped of MP status, which then accelerated this process. Defining the ensuing arrest of Güven and Farisoğulları as a "political coup," HDP started a "Democracy March" from Edirne and Hakkari to the capital city of Ankara on June 15, 2020.

The group who left Hakkari for Ankara reached Bismil, Diyarbakır on June 17. When the HDP politicians tried to meet and greet the people, they were faced with a police intervention and tear gas. Several HDP MPs, including Önlü and Eksik, were battered by police on that day. (EMK/SD)