Statement regarding the detention of MPS from HDP

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-11 MPs from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in Turkey has been detained for fefusimg to respond to the prosecuters request to bear testimony under the scope of ongoing counter terrorism investigation.

-The investigation began after the constitutional amendment on lifting the parliamentary immunity of parliament members passed with 376 votes at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in May.

-Just as in th UK, Refusal to respond to the summons by prosecutors asking for their testimony in probes is an act of breaking law and results in being taken into custody to take their testimony.

-Co-chairs of HDP Figen Yüksekdağ Şenoğlu and Selahattin Demirtaş were taken into custody in Ankara and in Diyarbakir.

-The Ministry of Internal affairs have announced the following MPs have been detained by police forces in accordance with the orders given by Chief Public Prosecutor’s Offices of Diyarbakır, Şırnak, Hakkari, Van and Bingöl:

1. Ferhat Encü
2. Leyla Birlik
3. Selma Irmak
4. Abdullah Zeydan
5. Selahattin Demirtaş
6. İdris Baluken
7. Figen Yüksekdağ Şenoğlu
8. Sırrı Süreyya Önder
9. Ziya Pir
10. Gülser Yıldırım
11. Nursel Aydoğan

-Arrest warrants have been issued abroad for
Faysal Sarıyıldız and Tuğba Hezer Öztürk.
The legal process for İmam Taşçıer and Nihat Akdoğan for whom custody warrants have been issued is still ongoing.

-The HDP parliamentarians and their supporters have not only shown sympathy towards the ideologies and actions of the PKK but have also supported the terrorist acts carried oyt by the terrorists.  It is HDP’s close links with the the PKK that has led to the detainment of HDP MP’s and party leaders.

-The PKK is listed as designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US State Department and is a Proscribed terrorist Group by the UK Home Office. Therefore it is illegal to glorify the PKK and support their actions. Despite this, HDP supporters are able to freely carry flags with the PKK amblem, shout pro-PKK slogans and glorify the PKK leader Ocalan in various countries across Europe.

-PKK have claimed to be behind the blast struck that has resulted in fatalities and casualties in Diyarbakir on Friday morning.
The terror attack took place after Turkish authorities arrested senior HDP leaders as part of a counter terrorism investigation. We wish a speedy revovery to the wounded and send our deepest condolences to the friends and families of those who lost their lives in this heinious attack.

We hope that the international community will stand firmly with the Turkish government against the terrorist PKK organisation.