Subpoenas issued for eight HDP lawmakers

DİYARBAKIR

Subpoenas were issued for eight lawmakers from the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) over the Kurdish Communities Union (KCK) case in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır on Sept. 5. HDP group deputy chairman Çağlar Demirel was among the ones that a subpoena was issued for by the Diyarbakır Second Heavy Penal Court, Anadolu Agency reported.

The issuance of subpoenas came after the law regarding the lifting of legislative immunities of lawmakers was published in the Official Gazette.

The trial for eight lawmakers started on Sept. 5, as the lawyers of the deputies were present in the court room. The lawmakers, Osman Baydemir, Dirayet Taşdemir, Demirel, Selma Irmak, Ahmet Yıldırım, Besime Konca, Alican Önlü and Nadir Yıldırım, didn’t participate in the hearing, as the court issued a subpoena for the next hearing. 

Arrest warrants had been issued for 21 people in the same case, including HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş’s brother, Nurettin Demirtaş.

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ commented on the health condition of jailed outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan. 

“The issue of Abdullah Öcalan has been abused by the terrorist organization continuously and inaccurate information has been passed to the public all the time. They spread wrong information regarding Öcalan’s health and security in order to mobilize people to use it for their own purposes. I should tell you very clearly that there is no problem on Abdullah Öcalan’s security,” Bozdağ said, adding that security measures at İmralı Island Prison, where Öcalan is held, were of the highest level. 

“The security precautions in the prison have been reexamined after July 15,” he also said, referring to the July 15 failed coup attempt. 

Saying that the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) talked to Öcalan in İmralı recently, Bozdağ noted that “no one should believe in dark propaganda.” 

“Controls have been made regularly. There is no issue regarding his health,” he said. 

Elsewhere, a group of 50 people started hunger strike that they are conducting to receive news regarding Öcalan. HDP lawmakers were among the ones engaging in the strike, which will last until the group hears from the PKK leader via his lawyers, family members or a political delegation.