Immunity of 4 names in Parliament: 'There may be arrests in the coming period'

Presidential summaries regarding the lifting of legislative immunity for CHP Aydın Deputy Hüseyin Yıldız, DEM Party Mardin Deputy Kamuran Tanhan, IYI Party Gaziantep Deputy Mehmet Mustafa Gürban, and Independent Istanbul Deputy Cemal Enginyurt have been submitted to the Speaker of the TBMM.

The first reaction to the request to lift the immunity of the 4 deputies came from DEM Party Mardin Deputy Kamuran Tanhan. Speaking to 12punto, Tanhan described what would happen if the immunities were lifted.

"THERE MAY BE ARRESTS"

Recalling the speech he made following the appointment of a trustee to the DEM Party-run Mardin Metropolitan Municipality, Tanhan said, "I do not yet have clear information regarding the content. The statements we made during the trustee protests were likely cited as the reason."

Drawing attention to the difficulties they will face in the coming period, Tanhan stated, "This is an unlawful act; it is an attempt to silence the opposition and send a message to the citizens who are protesting through us, saying 'we cannot touch them, but we can touch you.' If our immunity is lifted, situations such as trials and arrests may occur in the coming periods."

WHAT IS PARLIAMENTARY IMMUNITY FOR?

Article 83/2 of the Constitution, titled "Legislative immunity," states: "A deputy who is alleged to have committed an offense before or after the election cannot be detained, interrogated, arrested, or tried without the decision of the Parliament."