Turkish lawmakers face jail sentence on insult charges

By Cemal Asan

VAN, Turkey (AA) - A Turkish court on Wednesday called for up to five years imprisonment for two opposition lawmakers accused of insulting the country’s president.

According to an indictment issued by the chief public prosecutor in Van province, eastern Turkey, Tugba Hezer Ozturk and Lezgin Botan should be sentenced to five years in jail for insulting Recep Tayyip Erdogan during speeches.

The two members of parliament belong to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP).

The investigation into Botan was based on a speech delivered at a meeting on Oct. 12, 2015 in Van; Ozturk’s charges are based on comments made during a news briefing on Nov. 28 the same year in Diyarbakir, southeastern Turkey.

Ozturk is being tried in absentia. The HDP official -- who also faces a number of terror-related charges -- is believed to be in Europe.

Botan was detained on terrorism charges last month upon an order by Van's 8th High Criminal Court but was later released.

The investigations started after parliamentary immunity was lifted from some HDP deputies last year.

The party is accused of having links to the PKK. The PKK is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the EU and the U.S.