Turkish Parliamentary Speaker Çiçek calls on removal of ban on 2 deputies

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

‘This ban should be lifted. This has to be lifted to let these deputies perform the duties of a lawmaker,’ Parliamentary Speaker Cemil Çiçek says. DAILY NEWS photo / Selahattin SÖNMEZ

Bans on leaving the country imposed on two opposition lawmakers should be removed, the parliamentary speaker has said, adding that this prohibition would prevent elected deputies from performing their duties and responsibilities.

The lawmakers Parliamentary Speaker Cemil Çiçek mentioned are Mehmet Haberal and Sinan Aygün from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), who have been prosecuted on charges of being members of the alleged Ergenekon gang.

Haberal was sentenced to 12 years and six months but was released Aug. 5 for time served. Aygün was sentenced to 13 years but had already been released by the court pending trial. The court issued bans on leaving the country against two lawmakers.

‘Fail to fulfill duties’

“This ban should be lifted. This has to be lifted to let these deputies perform the duties of a lawmaker and to be able to fulfill their work. Otherwise they will fail in properly fulfilling their duties,” Çiçek told Anadolu Agency Aug. 14.