DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (AA) - Four deputies of Turkey's opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) were arrested Thursday for allegedly spreading propaganda on behalf of the terrorist PKK/KCK organizations, a chief public prosecutor told reporters.
According to Diyarbakir Chief Public Prosecutor Kamil Erkut Gure, a total of 24 HDP deputies are being charged with being members and directors of the PKK/KCK terrorist organizations as well as spreading propaganda for them.
Parliamentary deputies have long enjoyed legal immunity, but that was reconsidered after five HDP deputies made an alleged "declaration of autonomy" during a meeting last year of a terrorist group affiliated with the party in southeastern Turkey.
After parliament lifted the HDP deputies’ legal immunity last March, the Diyarbakir chief public prosecutor opened an investigation into them. On Thursday, four were arrested, but Gure gave no information about the 20 other deputies.
According to Gure, investigations also continue into 312 lower-ranking HDP members.
"Since the July 15 coup attempt, 98 [PKK/KCK members] were arrested. and warrants were issued for 28," he said.
- Probes of FETO-linked officials continue
Gure also said 56 judge and prosecutors were arrested for links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), and 38 were released under judicial control.
He added that investigations in Diyarbakir continue into 15 judicial officials for links to FETO.
Gure told reporters that investigations were also opened into 295 military personnel for alleged involvement in the putsch attempt. Seventy-two of those were arrested, and 66 released under judicial control, he said.
He also said that 418 individuals linked to FETO operating at universities, the police force, governorships and other institutions were arrested, and 257 released under judicial control.
The total number of FETO-linked arrests since the July 15 coup attempt in Diyarbakir is 735, according to Gure. The coup attempt was staged by FETO, led by the U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen, according to Turkey.
The terror network is also behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary, Turkish authorities say.
Gure said some 8,000 experts are currently investigating materials related to the PKK and FETO at the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in Diyarbakir.