A draft proposal to remove the legislative immunity of lawmakers was presented to parliament on Tuesday, according to officials from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), as cited by Reuters.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu claimed that the move is aimed at “so-called lawmakers who lend support to terror and terrorists,” apparently referring to HDP members.
“Everything will come into sight very clearly. It will be shown who is afraid of lifting of their immunities and who is not,” Hurriyet Daily cited Davutoğlu as saying on April 12. “It will be revealed who is sheltering the deputies that are supporting terrorists in this parliament.”
The criticism of the state military offensive by HDP has also caused a spike in Turkish nationalism across the country, helping to accelerate a legal process on the removal of immunities.
The draft will provide state leadership with the grounds to prosecute politicians it deems inconvenient.
"Turkey is conducting its largest and most comprehensive fight ever against terror, while some lawmakers made statements giving support to terrorism before or after being elected, some gave de facto support and help and some lawmakers called for violence, which created great public disgust," the draft reads.
The armed conflict between the Turkish government and PKK began in 1984 and, to date, has claimed the lives of some 40,000 people. The standoff has lately escalated, beginning summer 2015.
