ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Turkey’s Chief Public Prosecutor in Ankara has prepared a case against Pervin Buldan, co-chair of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), and three deputies for “propagating for a terrorist organization,” state media reported. The allegations against Buldan, who sits in the parliament as a representative from Istanbul, Imam Tascier, Alican Onlu, and Berdan Ozturk stem from speeches the four made during the June parliamentary and presidential election campaign, according to Anadolu Agency. Their social media remarks and comments during Newroz celebrations in March were also examined. The files have been submitted to the Interior Ministry to be sent to the parliament with a request to lift immunity from the four. HDP has not immediately commented on the matter. This is not the first time that members of the pro-Kurdish party are accused of having connections with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Both former co-chairs, Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, are in jail on similar charges after the previous parliament voted to lift immunity from a select group of lawmakers. Demirtas' trial will resume in Istanbul on Wednesday morning.
