Motion to lift HDP deputies' immunity in Turkish parliament

A summary of proceedings asking for the removal of the parliamentary immunities of five Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) deputies, including co-chairs Selahattin Demirta? and Figen Yüksekda?, has been submitted to the parliament speaker, as the Turkish government pushes ahead with the process.

"I will talk about the issue with the parliament speaker," Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu told reporters on March 9, adding that "everyone has the right to express ideas at the parliament rostrum" but this should not be "abused to justify terrorist acts." 

Demirta?, for his part, insisted that "the sole 'organization' we are a member of is the HDP." 

The demand, which was prepared by a prosecutor in the southeastern province of Diyarbak?r and submitted to the Justice Ministry on Feb. 4, accuses the deputies of "provoking the people" and "being a member of an armed organization," referring to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). 

The ministry then sent the demand to the Prime Ministry, Anadolu Agency reported on March 4. 

Probes against the lawmakers were launched over crimes against the constitutional order after they attended a meeting of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) in the southeastern province of Diyarbak?r between Dec. 26 and 27, 2015.

The establishment of "democratic autonomous regions" was presented as a solution to the Kurdish problem during the meetings in Diyarbak?r.

"We will evaluate all these [the summaries of proceedings] with our parliament speaker and, if need be, with representatives from other political parties, after the budget [discussions]," Prime Minister Davuto?lu said in a televised interview on March 5. 

He added that requesting parliament to lift deputy immunities may ...