HDP deputy in custody dismissed from Turkish parliament

Semra Guzel, deputy for the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), was dismissed from the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) on Thursday on grounds that she "does not participate in legislative activity."

Guzel's parliamentary immunity had earlier been lifted on 1 March in the context of some photos taken in 2014, showing her with a member of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), who she was engaged to before she was elected.

Guzel was arrested in early September over "terror" charges.

While 330 deputies voted in favor of Guzel's dismissal against 42, an official of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) told + Gercek that they voted in favor.

In protest, HDP's deputies decided not to attend the parliament's plenary session for a day.

HDP co-chair Pervin Buldan said:

"Following in the footsteps of 2 March plotters, AKP-MHP have dismissed Semra Guzel from parliament in an expression of their animosity against Kurds and women. They should know that Semra is the will of Amed's [Diyarbakir] people and of women. You cannot dismiss this will! You will be the one who will lose against the people's will."

On 2 March 1994 the immunities of five Kurdish deputies were lifted in TBMM. They were detained the following day.

More recently, HDP deputies Faysal Sariyildiz and Tugba Hezer Ozturk were dismissed from TBMM in July 2017, Leyla Zana in January 2018 for "not participating in legislative activity."

Saruhan Oluc, deputy chair of HDP's parliamentary group, said after the vote that roll call was taken in the parliament only 11 times in the last four years, and in six occasions it was taken to put on record that Guzel was absent.