The recent detentions of nine lawmakers of the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) are "constitutional," Turkish deputy prime minister Numan Kurtulmus said Monday.
A total of nine HDP lawmakers, including co-chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, were remanded in custody last Friday for failing to answer public prosecutors’ summons linked to an ongoing counter-terrorism probe. Diyarbakir Deputies Ziya Pir and Imam Tascier, and Ankara Deputy Sirri Sureyya Onder were released under judicial control.
"This is in line with the Constitution. [...] The process to arrest, and remand [the HDP lawmakers] and the upcoming process is totally and 100% legal," Numan Kurtulmus said at a news conference following the Cabinet meeting.
The deputy PM went on to say that another HDP deputy, Nihat Akdogan, who was under arrest warrant, was captured in southeastern Hakkari province, bringing the number of wanted lawmakers down to two.
Van Deputy Tugba Hezer Ozturk and Sirnak Deputy Faysal Sariyildiz are the remaining HDP deputies for whom arrest orders have been issued.
Kurtulmus said the HDP continued its political activities "in the shadow of the terrorist organization," referring to the PKK.
The arrested lawmakers face prosecution under anti-terrorism laws after their parliamentary immunity was lifted earlier this year.