Former Hezbollah convicts apply to have voting and running rights restored

Hundreds of former Hezbollah convicts in Turkey, who were tried and convicted for terrorism-related crimes in the 1990s and 2000s, have applied to have their rights to vote and run for office restored ahead of upcoming elections, after Huda-Par, the Hezbollah’s alleged political wing has decided to join the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) alliance for the elections. Turkey’s pro-opposition Sozcu newspaper reported.

Many of these individuals were tried and convicted in the state security courts and special-authority heavy penal courts on charges of being members or leaders of the Hezbollah organization. As a result of their convictions, they have been stripped of their right to vote and run for office.

But the former convicts now argue that they have served their time and met the necessary requirements to have their rights restored. The applications have led to a backlog in the courts, with many of the former convicts seeking to vote or run for office in the upcoming elections, according to Sozcu.

Some of the applicants are seeking to run as candidates for Huda-Par, while others are seeking to be active in the party as members or leaders, Sozcu said. The party has been actively seeking new members in the Southeastern region of the country, where it has traditionally had a strong base. The former convicts are seen as a way for the party to bolster its membership and support in the region.

The courts will decide whether to restore the rights of the former convicts on a case-by-case basis, taking into account their criminal records and other factors. Those who meet the necessary requirements will be able to vote and run for office in the upcoming elections.