Wanted HDP deputies meet European Parliament group head

By Hasan Esen

BRUSSELS

Two opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputies have met the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) Group president in the European Parliament Monday despite the fact that the duo are wanted in Turkey on terrorism charges.

The fugitives, HDP Van deputy Tugba Hezer Ozturk and HDP Sirnak deputy Faysal Sariyildiz, were received by the S&D President, Gianni Pittella, in Brussels.

Pitella later shared a photograph of the meeting on his official Twitter account. The photo also shows HDP’s Europe representative Eyup Doru, for whom Turkey issued a red notice for his terrorist acts.

The HDP has 59 deputies in Turkey’s Grand National Assembly. On Friday, 12 HDP deputies were arrested for failing to answer a court summons linked to a counter-terrorism investigation.

Nine, including co-leaders Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, were remanded in custody pending trial.

Parliamentary immunity from prosecution for lawmakers facing criminal investigation was lifted earlier this year. Although it affects deputies from all four parliamentary parties, it is mostly politicians from the HDP, which has been accused of ties to the PKK terrorist organization, and the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) that are involved.

Most HDP politicians face charges of spreading terrorist propaganda through speeches.