New probe launched into HDP’s Demirtaş over 2014-dated speech
ANKARA
A new investigation has been launched into Selahattin Demirtaş, the imprisoned co-leader of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), over a speech he gave in 2014, daily Cumhuriyet reported on Nov 10.
Cumhuriyet reported that a prosecutor on Nov. 6 demanded Demirtaş give his written testimony as part of the investigation he launched over a statement he made in 2014 in Mersin.
Demirtaş’s lawyers rejected the demanded, stating that he still enjoyed parliamentary immunity at the time of the speech so no legal action can be taken without parliamentary authorization on a summary of proceedings submitted by a prosecutor.
The HDP co-chair was arrested in October 2016 on terror charges after parliament partially lifted the immunities of dozens of lawmakers on charges registered before May 2016. Demirtaş currently has a number of summaries of proceedings against him but they do not include his statements made in Mersin in 2014.
After his lawyers’ response, the prosecutor reportedly removed his demand for testimony and instead prepared a specific summary of proceedings to be submitted to parliament against Demirtaş.
