ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Turkey’s top court has sent back an indictment attempting to close down the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) to the case’s prosecutor due to “procedural deficiencies,” reported state media on Wednesday. The Chief Prosecutor at Turkey's Supreme Court of Appeals, Bekir Sahin, filed a lawsuit at the country’s Constitutional Court on March 17 for the dissolution of the HDP due to its alleged links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) - an armed group struggling for the increased rights of Kurds in Turkey, but listed as a terrorist organization by Ankara. Turkey’s Constitutional Court’s General Assembly conducted its first examination of the indictment on Wednesday, deciding to send it back to Sahin due to procedural deficiencies, reported Anadolu Agency (AA). The court said it would re-examine the indictment if the shortcomings are addressed. It is not clear if the court will vote in the favor of closing the HDP or not. The filing of the indictment earlier this month came 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. Devlet Bahceli, leader of the MHP, slammed the Constitutional Court for the decision, saying they should seek the closure of the court as well. “Is the Constitutional Court in favor of rule of law or it is a clapper of separatism?” he asked, reported the Turkish edition of the BBC. The HDP is accused by some Turkish officials and politicians of being the political wing of the 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 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.
