Opposition MPs accused of sharing terror propaganda

By Baris Kilic

ANKARA (AA) - A Turkish public prosecutor’s office has submitted a summary of proceedings against opposition deputies, accusing them of sharing terrorist propaganda, a statement said on Wednesday.

According to a statement by the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in capital Ankara, the summary against the deputies of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Adem Geveri, Bedia Ozgokce Ertan and Lezgin Botan was submitted to the Ministry of Justice.

The statement said the summary was filed after the lawmakers were found to have shared written and pictorial terrorist propaganda on social media against the country's ongoing operation in Syria’s northwestern Afrin.

On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin, northwestern Syria.

According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkey’s borders and the region as well as to protect Syrians from terrorist oppression and cruelty.

The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey's rights based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions, its self-defense rights under the UN charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity, it said.

The military also said only terror targets are being destroyed and that "utmost care" is being taken to avoid harming civilians.