Motion at Turkish parliament to lift deputy's immunity

ANKARA

An official request to remove the parliamentary immunity of opposition lawmaker Tugba Hezer Ozturk was sent to the Turkish parliament on Wednesday, a source in the prime minister’s office said.

Prosecutors are seeking to remove the deputy’s immunity, which protects lawmakers from prosecution, over a visit she paid to the home of Salih Necar, the terrorist who carried out last month’s suicide car bomb attack that killed 29 mostly military personnel in Ankara.

Necar’s family live in Van, the southeastern province Ozturk represents for the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP).

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said the request was sent after Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s office received a summary of proceedings against Ozturk from the Justice Ministry.

Prosecutors in Van launched a twin investigation into Ozturk for promoting terrorist propaganda and praising a criminal following the visit within days of the Feb. 17 attack.

Last week, similar requests to lift the immunity of five other HDP lawmakers, including the party’s two co-leaders, were lodged with the parliament. The motions stemmed from speeches given in December in which the deputies allegedly supported autonomy for parts of southeast Turkey.

ANKARA

An official request to remove the parliamentary immunity of opposition lawmaker Tugba Hezer Ozturk was sent to the Turkish parliament on Wednesday, a source in the prime minister’s office said.

Necar’s family live in Van, the southeastern province Ozturk represents for the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP).

Prosecutors in Van launched a twin investigation into Ozturk for promoting terrorist propaganda and praising a criminal following the visit within days of the Feb. 17 attack.