Turkish minister accuses opposition over MPs' immunity

YOZGAT, Turkey

Turkey's justice minister has accused opposition parties of not being "sincere" in lifting parliamentary immunities.

Bekir Bozdag's remarks came on Friday, a day after Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's call on political parties in parliament besides his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party to lift all parliamentary immunities. He had suggested adding a temporary clause to the constitution.

"If the CHP (Republican People’s Party) is sincere enough, they will support this constitutional change, or a text can be jointly written," Bozdag told reporters in Turkey’s central Yozgat province.

Bozdag added that the MHP (Nationalist Movement Party) was also not "sincere" on the issue. He said those who were sincere could come together without laying down conditions.

On Wednesday, an official request to revoke immunity from prosecution from opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) lawmaker Tugba Hezer Ozturk was sent to parliament.

Last week, similar requests to lift the immunity of five other members of the HDP, including the party’s two co-chairs, were filed with parliament.

The motions stemmed from speeches given in December in which the deputies allegedly supported autonomy for parts of southeastern Turkey.

"Parliamentary immunity is a right that is granted to deputies only to perform their duties. Parliamentary immunity does not give someone freedom of committing crime," said Bozdag.

The minister said lifting the parliamentary immunities is "limited" to the deputies on whom a summary of proceedings have sent to parliament.