ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—A bill stripping parliamentary immunity from select lawmakers in Turkey’s parliament received preliminary approval from a parliamentary committee on Monday. Pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP) opposed the bill saying that it targets their MPs and suppresses dissent. The bill to temporarily amend the constitution, introduced by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), seeks to lift immunity from 129 members of the Turkish parliament. Drafting of the bill came after some HDP MPs made statements supporting Kurdish autonomy, as advocated by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for HDP members to face prosecution, accusing the party of having connections with the PKK, a named terrorist organization, an accusation HDP denies. “Turkey is conducting its largest and most comprehensive fight against terror to date, while some lawmakers made statements giving support to terrorism before or after being elected, some gave de facto support and help and some lawmakers called for violence, which created great public disgust,” the draft bill reads. Discussions on the contentious bill were twice interrupted by physical altercations. On Monday, AKP and HDP representatives threw water, kicks and fists at each other, briefly postponing the vote. HDP representatives left the committee meeting and the remaining lawmakers approved the draft bill. On Thursday, debate on the bill was postponed when tempers flared and a similar fight broke out. The bill now goes to parliament where it will need the support of at least 367 members of the 550-seat legislature. HDP is the only party to have declared opposition to the bill, which is likely to pass with a sizeable vote. Members of Turkey’s parliament are immune to prosecution while they are in office. They can, however, face criminal charges after they leave office.
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