Can Atalay stripped of his MP status

Imprisoned MP Can Atalay was stripped of his MP status in parliament.

Despite two rulings from the Constitutional Court declaring a violation of rights, Turkey's Worker's Party (TIP) Hatay MP Can Atalay, was not released. He faced a decision from the 3rd Criminal Division of the Court of Cassation, which was announced during the General Assembly of the Parliament on Tuesday.

AKP Group MP chair Bekir Bozdağ read out the decision, and following its announcement, Atalay was stripped of his parliamentary status.

DEM Party: Comply with the Constitution

Speaking during the debate, DEM Party parliamentary group chair Gülüstan Kılıç Koçyiğit strongly protested the attempt to read the decision to revoke Atalay's membership.

Koçyiğit said: "A coup is being staged against the will of the people here. Where is the Parliament Speaker? You are violating the Constitution. You are saying you don't recognize the Constitution. When we speak Kurdish, you remind us of the internal regulations. We reject establishing an order that will not even be a state of law, let alone a rule of law.  We invite you once again to comply with the Constitution."