Turkish parliament revokes seat of opposition lawmaker due to absenteeism

By Zehra Aydin Turapoglu and Seval Ocak Adiyaman

ANKARA (AA) - Türkiye’s parliament on Thursday revoked the seat of a deputy from the opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) due to absenteeism.

The parliament’s General Assembly voted for the expulsion based on earlier recommendations from a joint commission.

Guzel lost her seat with a vote of 330-42 in the 550-seat parliament.

She was captured in a joint operation carried out by the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and Istanbul Police Department when she was on her way to northwestern Edirne province, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said in September.

Guzel, carrying a fake passport, was with an individual, with initials A.G., who spread PKK terrorist propaganda and is a human trafficker, Soylu added.

In March, the Turkish parliament lifted the legislative immunity of Guzel, a HDP deputy from the southeastern Diyarbakir province.

While 327 lawmakers voted in favor of lifting Guzel's immunity, 52 legislators opposed the motion.

Earlier this year, photos of Guzel with PKK terrorist Volkan Bora were widely circulated in Turkish media.

Bora was neutralized in 2017 by the Turkish military in Türkiye's southeastern Adiyaman province.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

The Turkish government accuses the HDP of having links to the PKK terror group.