ELİF AKGÜL

Istanbul- The preparatory commission established to discuss the proceedings regarding the lifting of the immunity of HDP Diyarbakır MP Semra Güzel held the fourth meeting and issued a report in favor of the lifting of Semra Güzel’s parliamentary immunity with a majority vote. The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) announced that it will support a motion to lift the legislative immunity of Semra Güzel. Women politicians of the HDP, Green Party, and EMEP evaluated the commission decision, which is the first step of lifting the immunity of Semra Güzel.

“A planned and strategic step”

HDP Women's Assembly Spokesperson and Batman MP Ayşe Acar Başaran stated that the government’s waited for four years to leak her photos, “They leaked the photos while a social alliance against the government has been growing, early elections have been talked and the closure of the HDP has been discussed. This shows that leaking the photos is a planned and strategic step. “. Every day, the members of our party are detained; our party is criminalized, targeted. Despite all the pressures, the HDP doesn’t take a step back.”

“It is an attack against the struggle of women”

Underlining that this attack is an attack against the struggle of women, Ayşe Acar Başaran said, “The greatest power that the government must overcome is the common struggle of women. This (the attempt to lift the immunity of Semra Güzel) is a step to divide women and divide the common struggle. The AKP has produced a “survival discourse” to change the agenda of the country against the common reaction in society on issues such as economy, democracy, foreign policy, and femicide.”

“CHP should correct this mistake”

Recalling that decision to lift the immunity of Semra Güzel with a majority vote was sent to the Joint Parliamentary Commission with the votes of CHP and AKP members, Ayşe Acar Başaran said, “We are going through a period where immunity is being discussed. Our friends have paid a great price. ECtHR has ruled that the lift of legislative immunities of 40 HDP MPs violated their freedom of expression. Actually, the AKP has tried to lure the opposition into a trap. If the opposition supports the AKP, it will fall into this trap and be a party to this crime. We hope that they will correct this mistake.”

“The ruling party takes strength from the stance of the opposition”

“The attack on the HDP is a systematic and comprehensive attack,” Selma Gürkan, Vice-Chair of the Labour Party (EMEP), said, “The decision against Semra Güzel is a part of this attack. The leaking of her photos after four years shows this. The worst thing is that the opposition has partnered with the government to lift the immunity of MPs. The lifting of legislative immunities of MPs is a usurpation of the right of the people to vote and be elected. The ruling party takes strength from the stance of the opposition.”

Özlem Teke, Spokesperson of the Green Party also criticizes the attempt to lift the immunity of Semra Güzel. “As a party supporting the Kurds' struggle for democracy in the political arena, we are against the effort to lift the immunities. If the immunity of MPs can be lifted because of some photos, there are many photos of some AKP ministers. While no investigation is launched against them, why was an investigation launched against Semra Güzel for her photos taken when she was not an MP?” she said.