PETITION BY THE HDP
‘Imprisoned MPs Shall Vote in Election for Speakership of Parliament’
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Click to read the article in Turkish
Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has applied to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) Speakership for the imprisoned MPs to be able to vote in the speakership election to be held between November 17-21.
It was stressed in the petition submitted by HDP Deputy Group Chairs Ahmet Yıldırım and Figen Yüksekdağ that imprisoned MPs’ rights and duties still continue.
Stating that the jailed MPs cannot attend the legislative activities, thus cannot exercise their rights secured by the constitution and the TBMM bylaw, the petition noted that taking away imprisoned MPs’ rights to attend legislative activities and to vote without a legal ground means violation of constitutional, domestic and international legislations.
“Our MPs being kept in prison have to be able to vote in the speakership election to be held at the parliament.
“In case the conditions for the MPs to vote are not provided, it is obvious that this will cause a contravene in the constitution’s relevant articles".
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Nine imprisoned HDP MPs Selahattin Demirtaş - HDP Co-Chair Figen Yüksekdağ - HDP Former Co-Chair (She was relieved of her MP and HDP duties on February 21, 2017) İdris Baluken - Diyarbakır MP Selma Irmak - Hakkari MP Gülser Yıldırım - Mardin MP Ferhat Encü - Şırnak MP Abdullah Zeydan - Hakkari MP Çağlar Demirel - Diyarbakır MP Burcu Çelik - Muş MP |
In addition to HDP MPs, Republican People's Party (CHP) İstanbul MP Enis Berberoğlu has been in prison as well since June 14, 2017 as part of the MİT (National Intelligence Agency) Trucks case.
CLICK - The Status of HDP MPs to Date
(EKN/TK)