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Turkey
From left: Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu, Turkish Constitutional Court logo. Photo: Salih Gergerlioglu/Twitter
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — An outspoken politician who was stripped of his parliamentary membership on the ticket of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) had his rights violated, the Turkish Constitutional Court ruled on Thursday. His son said that the politician is being released.
Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu, known for shining a light on strip searches in prisons, was sentenced to two years and six months in 2018 on charges of producing propaganda for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in connection with a 2016 tweet about how to peacefully end the decades-long conflict between the PKK and the Turkish state.
The decision was upheld by a higher court, ending his membership in parliament in February. He was detained for a short period of time on March 21 and detained again on April 2. He has been incarcerated since then.
Turkey's Constitutional Court ruled on Thursday that Gergerlioglu's "right to be elected and engage in political activities," as well as "the right to liberty and security" have been violated, says Bianet, an independent news outlet.
In addition, the top court has ruled that the court that gave him the sentence must be notified so that the appropriate steps to be taken for his release can be initiated.
Salih Gergerlioglu, the former lawmaker’s son who has been defending his father on social media since his arrest, confirmed the court’s ruling in a tweet, saying “My father is going to be released; he is going to be released."
“One day, I will publish the news of my father’s release here,” Salih said in a separate tweet.
HDP has been under pressure by the Turkish government for its alleged links to the PKK. Scores of its members and politicians have been arrested in recent years on terror charges. There is an ongoing trial for the closure of the party following the submission of an indictment which also seeks a political ban on hundreds of party members.
Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu, known for shining a light on strip searches in prisons, was sentenced to two years and six months in 2018 on charges of producing propaganda for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in connection with a 2016 tweet about how to peacefully end the decades-long conflict between the PKK and the Turkish state.
The decision was upheld by a higher court, ending his membership in parliament in February. He was detained for a short period of time on March 21 and detained again on April 2. He has been incarcerated since then.
Turkey's Constitutional Court ruled on Thursday that Gergerlioglu's "right to be elected and engage in political activities," as well as "the right to liberty and security" have been violated, says Bianet, an independent news outlet.
In addition, the top court has ruled that the court that gave him the sentence must be notified so that the appropriate steps to be taken for his release can be initiated.
Salih Gergerlioglu, the former lawmaker’s son who has been defending his father on social media since his arrest, confirmed the court’s ruling in a tweet, saying “My father is going to be released; he is going to be released."
“One day, I will publish the news of my father’s release here,” Salih said in a separate tweet.
HDP has been under pressure by the Turkish government for its alleged links to the PKK. Scores of its members and politicians have been arrested in recent years on terror charges. There is an ongoing trial for the closure of the party following the submission of an indictment which also seeks a political ban on hundreds of party members.
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