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Türk faces probe over Öcalan remarks at press conference
The Constitutional Court disbanded the DTP on charges of separatist acts and rescinded Türk's parliamentary membership, banning him from politics for five years. Shortly after the decision, the 19 remaining deputies of the pro-Kurdish party announced their intention to resign from Parliament. Türk, however, announced last Friday that the deputies would keep their seats in Parliament.
Türk said one of the reasons behind the DTP deputies’ decision to stay in Parliament was an appeal from the jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Öcalan, urging the deputies to continue their political struggle in Parliament. The terrorist leader is serving a life sentence in prison on the island of İmralı.
The remarks drew the ire of many people in Turkey and spurred the Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office to launch an investigation into the former DTP leader. Türk is accused of violating articles 215 and 216 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), which prohibit the public praise of a convicted felon.
Ninety-eight DTP mayors are expected to join the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) in a ceremony scheduled for today in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır. The BDP was established to replace the DTP after a closure case was opened against it. In a press statement, the BDP stated that the mayors would join the party in a ceremony to be attended by BDP leader Demir Çelik.
The 19 former DTP deputies are also expected to join the BDP.
Court demands up to 3 years in jail each for 54 DTP mayors
Meanwhile, the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court continued its series of hearings against 54 mayors of the now-defunct DTP yesterday, asking for up to three years in jail for each mayor.
The mayors are accused of “publicly praising” Öcalan in a joint statement made in 2007. Among the mayors are Yenişehir Mayor Fırat Anlı, Bismil Mayor Şükran Aydon and Viranşehir Mayor Emrullah Cin.
Anlı defended himself saying that the objective of their statement was to strengthen peace in the country, taking into account the political atmosphere of the country at the time.
The court also issued an arrest warrant for former Hakkari Mayor Metin Tekçe and former Derik Mayor Ramadan Kapar. The two failed to attend the hearing as they are abroad.
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