Erdogan: CHP deputies who “insulted” judges should be stripped off their immunity

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan claimed that opposition deputies who allegedly insulted a court board last week should be stripped off their immunity and prosecuted. 

Pro-government Yeni Safak newspaper posted a video on its web site on October 27 showing three deputies from the CHP (Republican People’s Party) reacting heavily after a court decided against a fellow mayor from CHP in an embezzlement case. 

In the video, CHP deputies Ali Mahir Basarir, Seyit Torun and Turan Aydogan were heard shouting “Shame on you!” and “Don’t act as a triggerman,” addressing the judges who rejected the restoration of former mayor Vefa Salman. 

In a live interview with Turkey’s ATV, Erdogan claimed the act was a clear example of “immorality, lawlessness, and disregard for the rule of law,” adding that CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu defends them “because he has the same character.” 

“The Ministry of Justice is currently prosecuting them. I am in favor of a further step in this matter, their immunity should be lifted once and for all. These people affect the parliament, they pollute the politics. When they say they are 'Ataturk's party', I believe they also hurt Ataturk's soul,” Erdogan said and added: “I guess if Ataturk were alive, he would have put them on the doorstep right now, but Mr. Kemal has neither this courage nor this character.”

Meanwhile the file for the investigation on charges of "attempting to influence a fair trial, insulting a public official because of his/her duty," against CHP deputies  was sent on Thursday to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office with a decision of lack of jurisdiction.