Turkish court imposes foreign travel ban on HDP deputy

By Rauf Maltas

SANLIURFA, Turkey (AA) - A local court in southeastern Turkey ruled on Tuesday a foreign travel ban for an opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) lawmaker.

During the 9th hearing, Sanliurfa’s 1st Heavy Penal Court ordered travel ban for Ibrahim Ayhan, HDP‘s Sanliurfa lawmaker, who have been facing trial on charges of “making propaganda for terrorist organization.”

The suspect did not attend the trial and was represented by his lawyer in the court.

In July, another court gave Ayhan one year and three months in prison on terror charges in a separate case.

Ayhan was accused of praising the actions of the terrorist group PKK through his remarks as well as his online posts.

The Turkish government has accused the HDP of being linked to the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- resumed its armed campaign against Turkey in July 2015.

Since then, it has been responsible for the deaths of more than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians, including a number of women and children.