Turkey parliament strips two Kurdish HDP lawmakers of status
Posted on July 28, 2017 by Editorial Staff in Politics
Turkey’s Kurdish HDP deputies Tugba Hezer Ozturk (R) and Faysal Sariyildiz, 2016. Photo DHA/AA
ANKARA,— The Turkish parliament on Thursday voted to strip two pro-Kurdish lawmakers of their status of MP on the grounds of “absenteeism”, their party said.
The Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party’s (HDP) Faysal Sariyildiz and Tugba Hezer Ozturk were removed from office by a large majority.
They are accused of “absenteeism”, a party official told AFP.
“This is the first time that a member of parliament has lost his/her seat because of this reason,” she added.
“Those who usurp the will of the people by voting under the pretext of” absenteeism, “and those who turn a blind eye to a political purge must prepare themselves to live in shame,” the HDP’s co-chair, Serpil Kemalbay, said on Twitter.
Local media reported the two were currently abroad to escape trials where they are accused of links to Kurdish militants.
Hurriyet daily said both officials had not been in parliament since October.
Sariyildiz and Ozturk had been on a list published by the government in June of 130 individuals being investigated by prosecutors who could lose Turkish citizenship if they did not return home within three months.
“The role the people have given us, (and) the promise we have made to them to fight, will not change because of an illegitimate decision made by a fascist alliance. We will surely win,” Ozturk said on Twitter after the decision.
“We will continue to represent our people. History’s most tragicomic dictator will not escape from being tried,” Sariyildiz said.
The vote brings the number of HDP MPs who have lost their seats to four, meaning there are now 546 lawmakers in parliament instead of 550.
In the last general election in November 2015, the HDP won 59 seats, becoming the second largest opposition party.
One of those who lost her seat was former HDP co-party leader, Figen Yuksekdag, who was later replaced by Kemalbay.
Yuksekdag has been detained since November, with 10 other HDP lawmakers, including the charismatic co-leader Selahattin Demirtas.
Thousands of officials from the HDP have been detained since 2015. The HDP says as many as 5,000 of its members have been detained as part of a crackdown that followed last year’s failed coup, and which rights groups say targets dissent.
Together with other HDP officials, they are accused of having links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), designated as a “terrorist” group by Turkey, the European Union (EU) and the United States.
The HDP fiercely denies being a political front for the PKK. It says it is being targeted because of its opposition to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The PKK took up arms in 1984 against the Turkish state, which still denies the constitutional existence of Kurds, to push for greater autonomy for the Kurdish minority who make up around 22.5 million of the country’s 79-million population.
A large Kurdish community in Turkey and worldwide openly sympathise with PKK rebels and Abdullah Ocalan, who founded the PKK group in 1974, and has a high symbolic value for most Kurds in Turkey and worldwide according to observers.
http://ekurd.net/turkey-strips-kurdish-lawmakers-2017-07-28
Posted on July 28, 2017 by Editorial Staff in Politics
Turkey’s Kurdish HDP deputies Tugba Hezer Ozturk (R) and Faysal Sariyildiz, 2016. Photo DHA/AA
ANKARA,— The Turkish parliament on Thursday voted to strip two pro-Kurdish lawmakers of their status of MP on the grounds of “absenteeism”, their party said.
The Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party’s (HDP) Faysal Sariyildiz and Tugba Hezer Ozturk were removed from office by a large majority.
They are accused of “absenteeism”, a party official told AFP.
“This is the first time that a member of parliament has lost his/her seat because of this reason,” she added.
“Those who usurp the will of the people by voting under the pretext of” absenteeism, “and those who turn a blind eye to a political purge must prepare themselves to live in shame,” the HDP’s co-chair, Serpil Kemalbay, said on Twitter.
Local media reported the two were currently abroad to escape trials where they are accused of links to Kurdish militants.
Hurriyet daily said both officials had not been in parliament since October.
Sariyildiz and Ozturk had been on a list published by the government in June of 130 individuals being investigated by prosecutors who could lose Turkish citizenship if they did not return home within three months.
“The role the people have given us, (and) the promise we have made to them to fight, will not change because of an illegitimate decision made by a fascist alliance. We will surely win,” Ozturk said on Twitter after the decision.
“We will continue to represent our people. History’s most tragicomic dictator will not escape from being tried,” Sariyildiz said.
The vote brings the number of HDP MPs who have lost their seats to four, meaning there are now 546 lawmakers in parliament instead of 550.
In the last general election in November 2015, the HDP won 59 seats, becoming the second largest opposition party.
One of those who lost her seat was former HDP co-party leader, Figen Yuksekdag, who was later replaced by Kemalbay.
Yuksekdag has been detained since November, with 10 other HDP lawmakers, including the charismatic co-leader Selahattin Demirtas.
Thousands of officials from the HDP have been detained since 2015. The HDP says as many as 5,000 of its members have been detained as part of a crackdown that followed last year’s failed coup, and which rights groups say targets dissent.
Together with other HDP officials, they are accused of having links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), designated as a “terrorist” group by Turkey, the European Union (EU) and the United States.
The HDP fiercely denies being a political front for the PKK. It says it is being targeted because of its opposition to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The PKK took up arms in 1984 against the Turkish state, which still denies the constitutional existence of Kurds, to push for greater autonomy for the Kurdish minority who make up around 22.5 million of the country’s 79-million population.
A large Kurdish community in Turkey and worldwide openly sympathise with PKK rebels and Abdullah Ocalan, who founded the PKK group in 1974, and has a high symbolic value for most Kurds in Turkey and worldwide according to observers.
http://ekurd.net/turkey-strips-kurdish-lawmakers-2017-07-28
Today at 6:32 am by Rocky
» Minister of Resources: Iraq is one of the countries most affected by climate change
Today at 6:29 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani arrives in Riyadh to participate in the World Economic Forum
Today at 6:27 am by Rocky
» An Arab call to the countries neighboring Iraq regarding the share of water
Today at 6:26 am by Rocky
» IMF: Poor productivity is responsible for 50% of the decline in economic growth
Today at 6:20 am by Rocky
» The President of the Republic stresses to Barzani the importance of focusing on construction, recons
Today at 6:19 am by Rocky
» Will Iran lose the Iraqi market? 20 million dollars is threatened with loss
Today at 6:18 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Economy: Parliament will extend the legislative term to approve the budget
Today at 6:13 am by Rocky
» The price of the dollar is close to 145 thousand dinars؛ how much is $100 worth of transactions؟
Today at 6:13 am by wciappetta
» A factory for producing electric cars
Today at 6:12 am by Rocky
» Prime Minister: We have launched strategies to improve the conditions of workers
Today at 6:10 am by Rocky
» Economic prospects from America to Türkiye
Today at 6:09 am by Rocky
» Al-Rayes: The path of development is the first gateway to sustainable economic advancement
Today at 6:08 am by Rocky
» Days after announcing the connection with Jordan, an almost complete absence of electricity in Ramad
Today at 6:06 am by Rocky
» A Kurdistan delegation meets with the Ministry of Finance in Baghdad to discuss “revenues and implem
Today at 6:05 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Economy reviews files and the importance of Sudanese’s upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia
Today at 5:59 am by Rocky
» Al-Maliki talks about postponing the Kurdistan Parliament elections and says that salary transfers w
Today at 5:54 am by Rocky
» The President of the Republic and Barzani discuss the results of Sudanese’s visit to the United Stat
Today at 5:53 am by Rocky
» The Ministry of Finance is "dizzy"... An expert points out a "lapse" in the budget schedules: Februa
Today at 5:49 am by Rocky
» Sudanese Advisor: The 2024 budget has entered into force... and there is no need to send its schedul
Today at 5:43 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi dinar is recovering against the US dollar in local markets
Today at 5:42 am by Rocky
» Iraq.. The claim that OPEC’s decisions affect oil derivatives only and not crude is “inaccurate”
Today at 5:39 am by Rocky
» Al-Bawi: Erdogan failed in his promises to his people and seeks to plunge Iraq into its conflict wit
Today at 5:37 am by Rocky
» The Sudanese and his battle against corruption.. Where is the fault with the government or with the
Today at 5:36 am by Rocky
» Amnesty International criticizes Iraq's implementation of 13 death sentences
Today at 5:34 am by Rocky
» The ambassador is very angry with Parliament: The homosexuality law obstructs the government and har
Today at 5:33 am by Rocky
» Al-Mandalawi: There is no place for homosexuality in the Iraq of the prophets and saints, and that i
Today at 5:32 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani receives the President of the University: Towards the strength and status of the Arab syst
Today at 5:31 am by Rocky
» Ayed Al-Hilali: All leaders are discussing “the finer details of Sudanese” tonight, and Barzani join
Today at 5:30 am by Rocky
» He announced the reception of offers from three alliances from international companies for the Baghd
Today at 5:28 am by Rocky
» During his meeting with the head of the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate... Al-Amiri stresses the importa
Today at 5:26 am by Rocky
» To address the dollar exchange rate... Mazhar Muhammad explains the risks of floating the Iraqi dina
Today at 5:25 am by Rocky
» During the launch of the Arab Labor Conference in its 50th session in Baghdad... Al-Sudani: We launc
Today at 5:24 am by Rocky
» Saudi Arabia announces an increase in direct flights with Iraq
Today at 5:23 am by Rocky
» Resources: Government measures have contributed to improving the water situation in Iraq
Today at 5:22 am by Rocky
» Al-Sadr: The voice of American universities calling for an end to Zionist terrorism is our voice
Today at 5:21 am by Rocky
» International organization: 50% of displaced Iraqis lack official documents
Today at 5:20 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The path of development will provide many job opportunities
Today at 5:19 am by Rocky
» Parliament Finance: The necessity of converting tax and customs revenues to digital processing
Today at 5:18 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani announces that clues have been found to uncover those involved in the Kormor bombing
Today at 5:16 am by Rocky
» The start of the work of the Fourth Baghdad International Water Conference
Today at 5:09 am by Rocky
» The Council of Ministers will suspend official working hours next Wednesday
Today at 5:07 am by Rocky
» An almost complete outage of water and electricity in western Anbar
Today at 5:06 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary expectations of extending the legislative term to approve the budget
Today at 5:00 am by Rocky
» Education: The cost of participating in the electronic school will amount to 200 thousand dinars
Today at 4:59 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani arrives in Riyadh to participate in the World Economic Forum
Today at 4:58 am by Rocky
» A newspaper reveals a dark world that brings together bloggers and politicians
Today at 4:57 am by Rocky
» Al-Marsoumi: The bombing of the Kormor field undermined efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in gas
Today at 4:55 am by Rocky
» utube MM&C 4/24/24 Support - USA- Turkey - Timing- Currency Value - Tabled
Yesterday at 3:18 pm by Rocky
» utube MM&C 4/26/24 Iraqi Dinar - US Treasury Exchange Rates- Focus - Banking Partnerships - Rate C
Yesterday at 3:17 pm by Rocky
» Parliamentary efforts to transform Iraq into a global market for transferring Internet capacities
Yesterday at 3:07 pm by Rocky
» A parliamentary committee that enriches the political forces: Stop plundering Iraq’s wealth and work
Yesterday at 2:56 pm by Rocky
» Politician: Salem Al-Issawi is the most likely to assume the presidency of Parliament
Yesterday at 2:55 pm by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The world today is witnessing crises whose impact has been reflected in the global econo
Yesterday at 10:50 am by Rocky
» The Federal Court responds to an inquiry by Al-Sudani regarding the powers of the provincial council
Yesterday at 10:40 am by Rocky
» Among them are the Iraqis... a list of the most sought-after immigrants to America
Yesterday at 10:38 am by Rocky
» An expert talks about the "biggest barrier" and the positives of merging Iraqi and Arab banks
Yesterday at 10:29 am by Rocky
» The House of Representatives adjourns its session
Yesterday at 10:24 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary demands to expedite the legislation of the Eid al-Ghadir holiday law (documents)
Yesterday at 10:23 am by Rocky
» Parliament adds the paragraph “Electing the Speaker of the House of Representatives” to its agenda
Yesterday at 10:21 am by Rocky
» Alsumaria publishes the text of the law against prostitution and homosexuality
Yesterday at 10:20 am by Rocky
» A parliamentarian reveals the reason for the failure of the Speaker of Parliament to pass during tod
Yesterday at 10:19 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The government has launched many strategies and initiatives that will improve the reality
Yesterday at 9:42 am by Rocky
» International Business: Iraq has made progress in supporting businesses through investment and priva
Yesterday at 9:33 am by Rocky
» Association of Banks: Iraq is witnessing great development in the transition to electronic governmen
Yesterday at 9:25 am by Rocky
» The House of Representatives votes to add an item to its agenda (election of the Speaker of the Hous
Yesterday at 9:22 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary integrity: Combating corruption requires parliamentary legislation
Yesterday at 9:15 am by Rocky
» Al-Karaawi: America is trying to restrict Iraq
Yesterday at 9:13 am by Rocky
» The State of Law coalition moves to form the local government in Diyala
Yesterday at 9:12 am by Rocky
» The Sudanese and his battle against corruption.. Where is the fault with the government or with the
Yesterday at 9:11 am by Rocky
» Prime Minister's Advisor: We will see the dollar fall on the black market soon
Yesterday at 9:09 am by Rocky
» The Sunni blocs are resolute. The presidency of the Council is ours, away from Al-Halbousi
Yesterday at 9:08 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani discusses with a workers’ organization his government’s steps in this field
Yesterday at 8:58 am by Rocky
» Parliament holds its session in the presence of 170 deputies
Yesterday at 8:57 am by Rocky
» In the presence of Nechirvan Barzani and Al-Sudani... the State Administration Coalition holds an “i
Yesterday at 8:55 am by Rocky
» The UAE company ADNOC resorts to Iraqi oil. Find out the reasons
Yesterday at 8:53 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi Parliament votes to add an item to elect a president to its agenda
Yesterday at 8:52 am by Rocky
» The Federal Court responds to an inquiry by Al-Sudani regarding the powers of the provincial council
Yesterday at 8:51 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: It is necessary to attract women to work as a productive energy that cannot be disrupted
Yesterday at 8:47 am by Rocky
» Zebari regarding targeting the Kormor field: a systematic attack on the economy of Kurdistan
Yesterday at 8:46 am by Rocky
» Saudi Arabia tops, and this is Iraq's rank... a list of major suppliers of crude oil to South Korea
Yesterday at 8:45 am by Rocky
» With a value of 125 million dollars.. Iraq is at the forefront of countries importing Iranian textil
Yesterday at 8:44 am by Rocky
» More than a billion dollars in sales from the Iraqi Central Bank within a week
Yesterday at 8:43 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani stresses the need for the expertise of the International Labor Organization to legislate a
Yesterday at 8:29 am by Rocky
» Including the return of 21 wanted persons.. The Iraq Money Recovery Fund counts its achievements in
Yesterday at 8:27 am by Rocky
» The path to development is the criterion between true patriotism and political clowning.
Yesterday at 8:25 am by Rocky
» The file of the Presidency of Parliament is on the state administration table... this evening
Yesterday at 8:22 am by Rocky
» Director General of the International Labor Organization: Many challenges in the world of work and t
Yesterday at 8:20 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The world is witnessing crises that reflect negatively on the Arab and international peop
Yesterday at 8:11 am by Rocky
» Prime Minister: Our government has provided great support for the success of the activities, program
Yesterday at 8:08 am by Rocky
» Al-Asadi: Iraq places the social protection file among its priorities
Yesterday at 8:07 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: Iraq is one of the first countries in the region to join the International Labor Organiza
Yesterday at 8:05 am by Rocky
» In the presence of Al-Sudani and Barzani, the State Administration Coalition holds an “important” me
Yesterday at 8:03 am by Rocky
» Appreciating the presence of Al-Sudani... Director General of the Arab Labor Organization: Here from
Yesterday at 6:29 am by Rocky
» Prime Minister: Our government has provided great support for the success of the activities, program
Yesterday at 6:28 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The world is witnessing crises that reflect negatively on the Arab and international peop
Yesterday at 6:24 am by Rocky
» The Parliamentary Development Institute organizes a workshop on the political role of the representa
Yesterday at 6:22 am by Rocky
» With Arab and international participation. Tomorrow will be the start of the Fourth Baghdad Internat
Yesterday at 6:21 am by Rocky
» OPEC Secretary General: The end of oil is not on the horizon
Yesterday at 6:19 am by Rocky