Top court denies appeal of former HDP lawmakers

The Constitutional Court has denied the individual applications of two former Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) lawmakers appealing for the reversal of a parliamentary ruling that removed their status as MPs.

The general assembly of the Constitutional Court unanimously rejected the individual application of Faysal Sarıyıldız and Tuğba Hezer on Sept. 7.

"The court has ruled to deny the appeal to reverse the decision of Parliament's General Assembly over removing the lawmaker status of HDP Şırnak deputy Faysal Sarıyıldız and HDP Van deputy Tuğba Hezer in accordance with Article 85 of the Constitution," a written statement from the Constitutional Court read. 

Parliament had voted for the dismissal of Sarıyıldız and Hezer on July 27 for failing to attend five sessions of parliamentary proceedings in October, November and December 2016. 

Sarıyıldız and Hezer left Turkey in the wake of the parliamentary vote to remove their immunities in 2016 and have been abroad ever since. 

The Turkish constitution rules that a deputy can be removed from their status after failing to attend parliamentary sessions without a valid reason or being absent for five sessions. In the event that their MP status has been removed over absence from parliament, the lawmaker can appeal to the Constitutional Court for the decision to be annulled on the grounds that it is contrary to the constitution, the law or the rules of procedure. 

The Constitutional Court is obliged to make the final decision on the appeal within 15 days.

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