Opposition deputy handcuffs himself in protest of imprisoned deputies' situation

ISTANBUL

HURRIYET photo

Republican People's Party's (CHP) Istanbul deputy Mevlüt Aslanoğlu handcuffed himself today while making a speech at the Planning and Budget Commission in an attempt to draw attention to the situation of imprisoned deputies, Hürriyet daily reported.

"I will make my speech like this. It's the only way that I can express myself properly. I was searching for democracy in Turkey, but I can't find it. It does not exist," he said. "There are other deputies on duty who were accused of similar crimes, but they are free. The elected deputies can't stay in prison."
 
He continued his speech making statements on the budget. "You are talking about national sovereignty, let's make it real and abrogate the state-owned television channel (TRT) tax on electricity.”
 
Aslanoğlu has previously protested the same issue by wearing a shirt with photos of imprisoned deputies on it.