Turkey’s top court to rule on Wednesday whether to postpone HDP’s closure case

Turkey’s Constitutional Court (AYM) this week is set to rule on pro-Kurdish HDP’s application, demanding the postponement of the party’s closure case proceedings.

The AYM will announce its decision on Wednesday [Jan.25], Arti Gercek reported on Monday.

Turkey’s Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has filed an application to the Constitutional Court on Jan.16, demanding the postponement of its ruling over the party’s closure case after elections.

HDP’s co-Chair Mithat Sancar said they demanded that all proceedings to be suspended until the elections and to continue after the vote.

The HDP, Turkish parliament’s third largest party with 56 deputies is facing closure for alleged terror links with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a claim that it denies.

On Jan.5, the Constitutional Court has ruled to temporarily block HDP’s Treasury funding accounts as part of the closure case, a move that would be a major blow to the pro-Kurdish party ahead of this year’s parliamentary and presidential elections.

After HDP's defense that is expected to be presented by Feb.4, the Court will decide whether the accounts should be permanently blocked or unblocked. The party was set to receive 539 million lira ($29 million) for 2023, 179 million lira ($9.6 million) of which was to be received on Jan 10.

Turkey's presidential and parliamentary elections will be held this spring, most likely on May 14.