Turkish speaker blasts opposition lawmaker for posing with PKK terrorist

ANKARA

The Turkish parliament speaker on Monday criticized an opposition lawmaker who posed for a photo with a PKK terrorist killed by security forces several years ago.

"Those who work under the roof of the Turkish Grand National Assembly must draw a clear line between themselves and terrorism. If this is not done, the law, constitution, and bylaws must be followed," Mustafa Sentop told journalists outside parliament.

Photos of People's Democratic Party (HDP) lawmaker Semra Guzel with PKK terrorist Volkan Bora were widely circulated in Turkish media on Sunday.

Bora was neutralized by Turkish armed forces in the southeastern Adiyaman province in 2017.

Sentop demanded that Guzel's legislative immunity from prosecution be revoked, adding: "In terms of crimes against the constitutional order, I believe that the immunity in cases involving serious crimes should be lifted and the way to trial should be paved."

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

In a case before Turkiye’s highest court, state prosecutors are seeking the closure of the HDP, and political bans for its members, saying that the party is little more than a front for the terrorist PKK.