Another HDP deputy remanded in custody in terror probe

HAKKARI, Turkey

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputy Nihat Akdogan has been remanded in custody after appearing before court in the southeastern Hakkari province on Monday evening.

Akdogan, an MP from Hakkari province, was charged with "committing a crime for a terror organization" and "making terror organization propaganda", among other accusations.

He is among the deputies who failed to answer a summons linked to a counter-terrorism investigation.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus had told journalists that the number of deputies who had failed respond to the summons was down to two following Akdogan's capture Monday afternoon at the entrance of Hakkari.

The HDP’s co-chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag as well as seven other lawmakers, were remanded in custody on Friday while three other lawmakers were released.

The arrested lawmakers face prosecution under anti-terrorism laws after their parliamentary immunity was lifted earlier this year.

Apart from Demirtas and Yuksekdag, the party's parliamentary group leader, Idris Baluken, Diyarbakır deputy Nursel Aydogan, Sirnak deputies Leyla Birlik and Ferhat Encu, Mardin deputy Gulser Yildirim, and Hakkari deputies Abdullah Zeydan and Selma Irmak were remanded in custody.

Diyarbakir deputies Ziya Pir and Imam Tascier, and Ankara deputy Sirri Sureyya Onder were released under judicial control, while Sirnak deputy Faysal Sariyildiz and Van Deputy Tugba Hezer Ozturk were said to be abroad.

The lawmakers face prosecution under anti-terrorism laws after their parliamentary immunity was lifted earlier this year.

Lawmakers from other parties have also been summoned before public prosecutors but only HDP deputies have refused to testify.