13 bar associations blast YSK, say only Parliament can drop deputy’s status. 13 bar associations criticizes the YSK for deciding to strip independent.
| Thirteen bar associations, mostly from southeastern and eastern Turkish provinces, blasted a recent Supreme Election Board (YSK) decision to strip an independent deputy of his position, claiming that only Parliament has a right to decide on the mandate of elected representatives. |
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Bar associations from Bitlis, Ağrı, Bingöl, Diyarbakır, Hakkari, Muş, Siirt, Şırnak, Tunceli, Şanlıurfa, Van, Mardin and Kars released a joint statement on Thursday, criticizing the YSK for deciding to strip independent, Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) supported deputy Hatip Dicle of his mandate.
The YSK last week prohibited Dicle, one of six jailed independent deputies, from assuming his seat in Parliament due to a prior terrorism-related conviction, which led to outrage among the pro-Kurdish party and its supporters.
The bar associations’ statement said the YSK has no right to decide on the validity of a deputy’s mandate after her or she wins it in an election, adding it is Turkish Parliament which has the authority to drop or maintain deputies’ mandates.
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