Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Kocaeli MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison on charges of 'spreading terrorist propaganda' which was upheld by the Supreme Court of Appeals. When the decision is read at the General Assembly, he will be stripped of his status as member of parliament.

 

Bringing the decision before the Constitutional Court (AYM), Gergerlioğlu answered the questions of a group of journalists including Mesopotamia Agency (MA) regarding the decision that might come out the General Assembly and the possible attitude of the opposition.

 

Stating that he can be stripped of his status as an MP within the current situation, Gergerlioğlu emphasized that the patliament did not ask for the opinion of the AYM. Underlining that the will of the peoples is essential and that the parliament has to wait for the opinion of the AYM, Gergerlioğlu drew attention to the fact that the decision was political. 

 

Reminding that he was being punished for retweeting a news article that doesn't have an access ban, Gergerlioğlu said: "We are face to face with an unlawful decision. This is a decision which a Supreme Court Judge objected, a decision which was taken with 4 votes against 1. It is a questionable decision. And the parliament insists on reading it. This decision is wanted to be taken very hastily."

 

THEY WERE OUTRAGED BY THE EXPOSÊ 

 

Underlining that HDP is dealing with the most urgent problems of Turkey, Gergerlioğlu told that he too is a HDP MP and also a human's rights defender. Gergerlioğlu said: "The fact that I am being stripped of my status as a member of parliament brings up the blemishes. Because I brought up kidnappings, torture, strip searches. Not one single investigation was launched against those who kidnapped people, tortured people or strip searched people. You are trying to dismiss and jail an MP that brings these up to the agenda with an unlawful decision. Me bringing strip search to the agenda was the last straw for someone. They left all the violations of rights I broought up unanswered and tried to get away with these. They are outraged that I exposed all these."

 

Gergerlioğlu continued: "They did not give me any answers about the strip search. But people are being strip searched in Turkey. People are being tortured. The government sees clearly that the authorities are lying and trying to cover it up. They speeded up the decision of my dismissal when they could not answer. The minute my file was brought before the Supreme Court, a penalty was requested and my sentence was upheld in a year. I was sentenced for sharing a statement of Murat Karayılan in a news outlet. Everyone was doing that during the solution process. The solution process ended but we kept telling the truth. We are paying the price for telling the truth. I was the host of the Marmara Committee of Wise Men. The minute the solution process was over, we were declared devils."

 

'I WILL BE AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'

 

Underlining that he never gave up on his struggle even though he was dismissed, and despite the sentences he faced, Gergerlioğlu told that he will continue to serve the public. Mentioning the AYM decision about CHP's Enis Berberlioğlu, Gergerlioğlu said he might return to the parliament. Underlining that he will be at the parliament when the decision is read, Gergerlioğlu said: "I will return just like Enis Berberoğlu had returned. I will be at the General Assembly when the decision is red and I think this will be the first time something like this will happen. Think about it. My status as a member of the parliament will be stripped of while I was in the General Assembly. This is really dire in terms of democracy and national will. Because it is questionable. The decision has not yet been brought before the AYM. The decision was taken despite the objection of a Supreme Court Judge. It is very clear that this decision is an enforcement.

 

Stating that he will not leave the parliament after the decision is read, Gergerlioğlu said: "I will wait at the parliament.Those who make me pay this price, has a price to pay themselves. The whole world will see how they take a member of the parliament from the parliament by force. They are trying to strip my status as an MP with games. I will not let it be so easy. I will resist at the parliament. They can come take me from the parliament by force. Same thing that happened back in 1994 will happen again before everyone's eyes.  If the decision is read, it will become the lever of the judicial coup. I was punished for insisting on peace. 90 thousand people voted for me. They will jail these 90 thousand people with me. I will still be a member of this parliament in the hearts of the people even though this decision is read."

 

CRITISIZED THE OPPOSITION

 

Underlining that he recieves support from all walks of life, Gergerlioğlu, told that he thinks the reactions of the opposition so far was not enough. Gergerlioğlu said: "The opposition must stand against this great extortion. If they remain silent because it is done to an HDP MP, this is beyond sad. What's done to me today will be done to them tomorrow. This is not a matter of HDP. They have to show their reaction clearly. Coups are not done by bombing the parliaments all the time, what is being done to me is bombing the parliament."

 

RESPONSE TO ŞENTOP

 

Gergerlioğlu also protested the fact that Speaker of the Parliament Mustafa Şentop said that it is not necessary to wait for the AYM's opinion. Gergerlioğlu said, "The speaker of the parliament has a duty of protecting the honour of the parliament. He is the speaker of the parliament to protect my rights. What do you mean you don't need to wait for the decision of the AYM? A member of the parliament was reinstated with the decision of the AYM. The constitution has to protect the immunities Mr. Speaker of the Parliement! Why hurry? I am inviting Mr. Şentop to do his duty."

 

MA / Diren Yurtsever