Turkish state moves to shut down Peoples’ Democratic Party

Turkish Supreme Court of Appeals filed a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court demanding the closure of Peoples Democratic Party (HDP).

Chief Public Prosecutor of the Court of Cassation has applied to the Constitutional Court and filed a lawsuit for closing the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP). The indictment against the party has been sent to the Constitutional Court.

The indictment accuses the party's politicians of advocating "in word and deed the destruction and abolition of the indivisible unity of the state and the nation." The board and members are alleged to be acting in concert with the PKK and as an extension of the "terrorist organization," a statement by Chief Public Prosecutor of the Court of Cassation Bekir Şahin said.

The HDP board plans to comment on the lawsuit after an extraordinary meeting called for Thursday.

In the wake of the latest development, HDP Central Executive Board (MYK) members have gathered in the parliament. The meeting, which is also attended by co-chair Mithat Sancar, will witness an evaluation of the closure case against the party.

 

The Court of Cassation launched an inquiry against the HDP on March 2, 2021. The Political Parties Bureau of the Court of Cassation's Chief Public Prosecutor's Office sent an official letter to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and requested the Kobane indictment filed against 108 defendants, including imprisoned former HDP Co-Chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ.

As part of the investigation into the Kobane protests from seven years ago, summaries of proceedings have been issued against 9 HDP MPs, including Co-Chair Pervin Buldan. The prosecutor's office of the high court requested these summaries as well, while the sources close to the office said that "it was a routine procedure.