Following the closure of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and debates on other parties being accused of “cooperation with terrorism”, 33 proceedings, mostly regarding HDP MP, have been brought to parliament. The files for the proceedings, which President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan claimed will be open and shut cases, are being requested to be brought to the General Assembly as soon as possible. HDP Batman MP Ayşe Acar Başaran, with whom we talked about the immunity files, said that the HDP is facing attempts to be made inoperable and this process will serve as a litmus test on democracy or fascism for other parties.
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has brought 33 proceedings to the parliament. In the 28 files against HDP MPs sent to the Justice and Constitutional Commission, there are accusations such as “terrorist organization propaganda”, “praising crime and criminals” and “public incitement to hatred and enmity” in addition to a Kobanê investigation. While Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Salihe Aydeniz is being tried on propaganda charges, Republican People’s Party (CHP) MPs Ali Mahir Başarır, Candan Yüceer and Ömer Fethi Gürer are being accused of “defamation”, “recording sounds and images” and “actual bodily harm”. Democrat Party MP Cemal Enginyurt is accused of “being a member of an organisation established for the purpose of committing crime” and “armed looting.”
With the latest files, the number of proceedings in the parliament has increased from 1192 to 1225. After the files are discussed in a mixed committee, consisting of members of the Justice and Constitutional Commission, in parliament, each one will come before the General Assembly separately. If a decision is taken to lift their immunities, the judicial process will begin for the MPs.
So, what will the attitudes of the parties in the parliament be in the negotiations regarding the lifting of immunities? The HDP, which has seen thousands of its elected politicians arrested in recent years, including its leaders and members, have its municipalities stripped and replaced by appointed trustees, and has hundreds of proceedings filed about its deputies, is the main target of the latest proceedings.
HDP Women’s Assembly Spokesperson and Batman MP Ayşe Acar Başaran said that there has been an attack on their party for a long time. Stating that every speech, action and activity they made is the subject of a lawsuit, Başaran said that this is not a situation that can be explained legally.
Expressing that the government has instrumentalised this process to get rid of the impasse it is facing, Başaran emphasised that the proceedings are aimed at rendering the HDP inoperable by applying pressures in all spheres. Başaran said that “this process will be a litmus test for everyone”, adding that the upcoming process will show whether the other parties will favour democracy and freedoms or the government attemp to institutionalise fascism.
CHP Mersin MP Ali Mahir Başarır, whose proceedings file for “defamation” was sent to the parliament, said that the proceedings were aimed to distract the public and change the agenda.
He said: “This is not Turkey’s agenda; [Turkey is facing] misery, poverty, injustice ... I haven’t gotten received the summons yet. But before we were notified about the proceedings, Anadolu Agency reported on it. It is sad that as a member of the Commission, I had to learn about it from Anadolu Agency.”
When we asked what his attitude would be in the Commission regarding all the proceedings, Başarır said that he will obey the decision that the authorised boards of the CHP will come to. Stating that if there was a properly functioning democracy in the country, parliamentary immunity would not be required, Başarır added that even MPs could not express their opinions freely because the judiciary is bound to the Palace [of Erdogan].
İYİ Party Group Deputy Chairman Yavuz Ağıralioğlu said that he had clear opinions on the HDP. Explaining that they will say yes when the proceedings take place, Ağıralioğlu said: “We want the country to be governed by law.”
When asked about the claims that the government was targeting the HDP in order to put pressure on all opposition in Turkey, Ağıralioğlu said that the ruling party was doing this through targeting the CHP and others too.
But he added: “We do politics in a style that we think is good for the country, without creating [false] perceptions. The word of Allah says: ‘Let your hatred towards the community not cause injustice.’ We must end separatism in such a way that it cannot be resurrected in this country.
“It’s not about HDP, it’s about obeying the rules. Any party that does not abide by the law or abide by the rules must be prosecuted.”
Ağıralioğlu added that “we cannot offend the voters who voted for the HDP because we frown on separatism”, and that the voters are not the deed property of any party.
He said: “We do not find it right for the HDP to say: ‘This is done because we are Kurds’. Every party should account for the rules it violates.”
As for the CHP’s attitude on the proceedings, CHP deputy chairman Engin Özkoç said at a press conference held in the Parliament: “Our people will examine the files directly related to terrorism.
“Up until now, proceedings by the commission had not posed a danger. We must ask them what has changed for it to come to this.” (EVRENSEL DAILY)
Bülent Falakaoğlu
Hakkı Özdal
