Turkish parliament revokes seat of opposition deputy

By Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - A deputy of opposition People's Democratic Party (HDP) lost her parliamentary seat on Tuesday.

The parliament’s General Assembly voted for the expulsion of Besime Konca, the lawmaker representing eastern Siirt province, on prime ministry’s resolution.

On May 29, a court in southeastern Batman province sentenced Konca to two-and-a-half years in jail on a series of charges including membership of an armed terrorist organization and making terrorist propaganda.

She was released from prison on July 29 after the approval of her appeal against the sentence.

The 2nd High Criminal Court in Batman ordered Konca's release, considering the five years she remained in custody. She was previously jailed in 2009 on terrorism charges, and released in 2014.

Her expulsion left 54 HDP deputies in the 550-seat parliament.

The ruling Justice and Development Party has 316 deputies, while the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has 133 deputies and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has 36 deputies.