Turkish opposition deputy steps down for health reasons

By Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA

Turkey's parliament on Wednesday accepted the resignation for health reasons of a main opposition lawmaker.

Safak Pavey, a Republican People's Party's (CHP) deputy from the Istanbul province, submitted a petition to step down on Sept. 15.

Pavey won her seat in 2011, making her the first disabled woman to serve in Turkey's parliament.

She is also a member of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and worked in the UN refugee agency, the UNHCR.

In 2012, the U.S. State Department gave Pavey an International Women of Courage Award.

Pavey, who lost an arm and a leg in a 1996 train accident, also worked internationally for the adoption and implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

With Pavey's resignation, the CHP now holds 131 seats in Turkey's 550-seat parliament.