Turkish parliament lifts legislative immunity of opposition lawmaker

By Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - Turkiye's parliament lifted the legislative immunity of an opposition lawmaker late on Tuesday, passing two summaries of proceedings.

A total of 313 lawmakers voted in favor of the first summary of proceedings on lifting the immunity of Semra Guzel, a member of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) from the southeastern Diyabakir province, in the 581-seat chamber, while 52 legislators opposed the motion.

On the second summary of proceedings, 327 lawmakers voted in favor, while again 52 were against.

The two documents were submitted by a Turkish court and accuse Guzel of "being member of an armed terror organization."

Earlier this year, photos of Guzel with PKK terrorist Volkan Bora were widely circulated in Turkish media.

Bora was neutralized in 2017 by the Turkish military in Turkiye's southeastern Adiyaman province.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkiye, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the US, and EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

In a case before Turkiye's highest court, state prosecutors are also seeking the closure of the HDP and political bans for its members, saying that the party is merely the public face of the terrorist PKK.