HDP MP loses seat in parliament due to absence

ANKARA

A lawmaker from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has lost her seat in parliament due to her lack of attendance.

Tuğba Hezer Öztürk, an HDP lawmaker from the eastern province of Van, was stripped of her parliamentary seat on June 14 after not attending talks in parliament for nearly a year.

Öztürk has been abroad for nearly a year after parliament lifted the immunities of lawmakers. 

She previously made headlines following a visit to the funeral of a slain outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militant in Van. 

In addition to Öztürk, stripping another HDP lawmaker is also said to be on the agenda. 

An HDP lawmaker from the southeastern province of Şırnak, Faysal Sarıyıldız, has been abroad and has not been attending parliamentary sessions due to the likelihood that he would be imprisoned. 

A total of 11 from the HDP, including its current and former co-chairs, Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, respectively, are in jail.

The HDP focuses on the Kurdish issue.