AKP rejects proposal to probe ‘parallel state’

ANKARA

AKP deputies vote against a proposal to probe the ‘parallel structure.’

A significant incident at parliament on Feb. 17 has gone largely unnoticed, as all eyes were on a fracas that left five opposition deputies injured on the first day of debates in the General Assembly regarding a government-led controversial homeland security bill.

Just before the fight erupted after arguments between ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies and members of parliament from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) during a late night closed session, the HDP’s parliamentary group forwarded a motion asking for an inquiry into the “parallel structure,” a byword for the movement of U.S. based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen.

However, the motion was rejected by votes from the AKP, which holds the majority with 312 seats in Turkey’s 550-seat parliament.

The HDP motion proposed an inquiry into the parallel structure regarding incidents in the judiciary, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), and the National Intelligence Organization (MİT), as well as regarding secret wiretapping incidents. The motion was originally filed to the Parliamentary Speaker’s Office on Feb. 27, 2014 by a group of HDP deputies. On Feb. 17, almost a year later, the HDP’s parliamentary group requested that the motion be brought forward ahead of pending motions in order to be submitted to the General Assembly.

Eventually, the HDP’s motion was rejected by “nay” votes from AKP deputies, for whom the Gülen movement has gone from ally to nemesis in recent months.

Meanwhile, the investigation into the “parallel structure” within the police department continued yesterday. As part of an investigation being conducted by the Siirt Chief Prosecutor’s Office, simultaneous operations in six provinces, with Siirt at the center, were launched and 10 suspects were taken into custody.