The Grand National Assembly of Turkey on Friday advanced an amendment to the constitution to strip members of parliament of their immunity privileges. The assembly voted on the measure with some 376 out of 550 members approving the constitutional amendment, preventing the need for a referendum on the issue. The move, backed by the president's Justice and Development Party (AKP) is could lead to the removal of Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) members of parliament in order to prosecute them for their alleged ties to militant Kurdish forces. As many as 130 members are now subject to removal and could face prosecution within the year if the bill is signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. EU representatives have called the lifting of immunity an issue of concern and implored the assembly to ensure the immunity is retained by all members.
Turkish state police on Sunday prevented members from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) from holding a party congress in direct opposition to Erdogan, by sealing off a hosting hotel. Erdogan announced in May that he does not plan to change the country's anti-terrorism law, a requirement of a deal struck between Turkey and EU in March. Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported in April that the first round of EU sanctioned deportations from Greece to Turkey on April 4 was "rushed, chaotic, and violated the rights of those deported." Erdogan stated in April that EU states are violating international law by breaking their migrant pact with Turkey, by not allowing the country to extradite suspected terrorists.
(Published by Jurist - May 21, 2016)