Parliamentary committee votes to lift immunity of HDP MP Semra Güzel

Duvar English

Turkey’s Parliamentary Constitution-Justice Joint Committee on Feb. 17 voted to lift the immunity of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) MP Semra Güzel on accusations of terrorism. 

The final decision will be taken through a voting procedure at the General Assembly of parliament. If Güzel is stripped of her immunity, she will stand trial over the said charges. 

An investigation was launched into Güzel following accusations that she was linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). During the peace process between the Turkish state and the group, Güzel visited a PKK camp in 2014. Her party says that the visit was at the behest of the state, but the ruling coalition accuses her of membership in the group.

Last month, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and İYİ (Good) Party announced that they would be voting in favor of stripping Güzel’s immunity. 

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) often accuses the HDP and its members of links to the PKK, which Turkey considers a terrorist organization.

A number of HDP deputies were stripped of their statuses in the past and scores of party members, including former lawmakers, are currently imprisoned.

In 2021, Turkish authorities launched a new lawsuit to close the HDP.

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