Speaker intervenes on behalf of jailed deputy

ANKARA

Mehmet Haberal. DHA photo

Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek has passed an application from the Republican People’s Party (CHP) to the Justice Ministry demanding urgent action to ensure that jailed CHP lawmaker Mehmet Haberal receives proper medical treatment for serious health problems.

“Taking into consideration the importance and urgency of the application, we have sent it on to the Justice Ministry requesting that they do what is necessary as soon as possible,” Çiçek said.

CHP deputy chairman Akif Hamzaçebi, who asked Çiçek to intervene, said the fact that Haberal was sent back to prison last month, despite his deteriorating health, endangered his life and constituted a flagrant breach of human rights.

Haberal, 67, needs constant monitoring and treatment at a multidisciplinary hospital due to persistent ventricular tachycardia, arrhythmia attacks, severe pains from spinal hernia and serious movement impairment, Hamzaçebi said.

Haberal, elected from prison last year, is awaiting trial on charges of belonging to the Ergenekon network which allegedly plotted to unseat the government.