ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The Chief Prosecutor at Turkey's Supreme Court of Appeals filed a lawsuit at the country’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday for the dissolution of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), state media has reported. The indictment by Chief Prosecutor Bekir Sahin said that HDP members have attempted to “disrupt and eliminate” the unity of the Turkish state through their statements and activities, according to Anadolu Agency (AA). Sahin’s action comes amid calls from some members of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) to close the party. The HDP is accused by some Turkish officials and politicians of being the political wing of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), but the party has denied any organic links to the group. Because the PKK is considered a terrorist organization by Ankara, scores of HDP supporters, members and officials have been arrested on terror-related charges. The lawsuit coincides with the expulsion of the HDP lawmaker Omer Gergerlioglu from Turkey’s parliament on Wednesday for a tweet he posted back in 2016. HDP co-chair Mithat Sancar said in a party meeting on Tuesday that “we do not discuss neither the closure [of our party] nor the proceedings [against members],” adding that such attempts will not stop their struggle. The HDP was formed in 2012 by members of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP). Both parties consider themselves pro-Kurdish, and are still in alliance. The HDP is seen as the successor of Democratic Society Party (DTP) which was founded in 2005 but closed by the Turkish Constitutional Court in 2009 for allegedly trying to divide Turkey. Kurdish-focused parties like the Democratic People’s Party (DEHAP) and People’s Democracy Party (HADEP) have also been banned for their alleged links to the PKK.
