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Turkish parliament votes to lift MPs' immunity from prosecution Turkish parliament votes to lift MPs' immunity from prosecution
(35 minutes later)
Turkey’s parliament has approved a bill to amend the constitution to strip MPs of immunity from prosecution, a move that paves the way for the trials of pro-Kurdish and other opposition legislators.Turkey’s parliament has approved a bill to amend the constitution to strip MPs of immunity from prosecution, a move that paves the way for the trials of pro-Kurdish and other opposition legislators.
A total of 376 deputies in the 550-seat assembly voted in favour of the government-backed bill, which was enough to avoid a referendum. It now needs to be ratified by the president.A total of 376 deputies in the 550-seat assembly voted in favour of the government-backed bill, which was enough to avoid a referendum. It now needs to be ratified by the president.
The amendment was proposed by the Justice and Development party after the president accused the pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic party (HDP) of being an arm of outlawed Kurdish rebels and repeatedly called for their prosecution on terror related charges. It puts 138 politicians, the vast majority of them from two opposition parties, at risk of prosecution. The amendment was proposed by the Justice and Development party after the president accused the pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic party (HDP) of being an arm of outlawed Kurdish rebels and repeatedly called for their prosecution on terror-related charges. It puts 138 politicians, the vast majority of them from two opposition parties, at risk of prosecution.
Related: Turkish opposition leader speaks out as MPs debate legal immunity lawRelated: Turkish opposition leader speaks out as MPs debate legal immunity law
Speaking in the Black Sea town of Rize moments ahead of the final round of voting, the president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, expressed hope for a favourable outcome, saying “my people don’t want to see criminal deputies in parliament”. Speaking in the Black Sea town of Rize moments before the final round of voting, the president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, expressed hope for a favourable outcome, saying: “My people don’t want to see criminal deputies in parliament.”
The decision coincides with a wave of violence in Turkey’s south-east following the collapse of a more than two-year peace process between the state and the outlawed Kurdistan Worker’s party (PKK). The decision coincides with a wave of violence in Turkey’s south-east following the collapse of a more-than-two-year peace process between the state and the outlawed Kurdistan Worker’s party (PKK).
The HDP, which backs Kurdish and other minority rights, denies accusations that it is the political arm of the PKK, considered a terrorist group by Ankara and its allies. The party has urged the government to end security operations in the southeast and to resume peace efforts. The HDP, which backs Kurdish and other minority rights, denies accusations that it is the political arm of the PKK, considered a terrorist group by Ankara and its allies. The party has urged the government to end security operations in the south-east and to resume peace efforts.