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Turkey seeks to lift main opposition leader’s parliamentary immunity

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of Turkey's main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), gestures as he delivers a speech during a meeting at the Turkish parliament in Ankara, on April 18, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / ADEM ALTAN

A dossier that seeks to remove the parliamentary immunity of seven main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputies, including Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, has been sent to the Turkish Parliament, local media reported.

According to a story on the Gerçek Gündem website on Tuesday, a dossier was sent by the Justice Ministry to Parliament requesting that immunity be lifted for Kılıçdaroğlu, CHP parliamentary group chairman Özgür Özel, CHP Deputy Chairman Veli Ağbaba and deputies Eren Erdem, Özgür Yalım, Aytun Çıray and Namık Havutça.

Following a decision by Parliament supported by Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in May of last year, 510 investigations were launched into members of the opposition parties, paving the way for the annulment of their immunity.

At least 12 pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputies, including its co-chairs, were jailed after their immunity was removed due to alleged links with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

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