Turkish parliament speaker rejects CHP's proposal to form special commission for Gaza

Parliament Speaker İsmail Kahraman has rejected a proposal submitted by the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) regarding the formation of a special commission to investigate human rights violations in the Gaza Strip. 

CHP Istanbul lawmaker Sezgin Tanrıkulu and CHP Group Deputy Chairman Özgür Özel made the proposal in August and referred to a previous commission formed to investigate deadly clashes that erupted on March 12, 1995 in Istanbul's Gazi neighborhood.

"The parliament formed a special commission to investigate the incidents in the Gazi neighborhood that started with the opening of fire on a coffee shop on March 12, 1995. As can be seen in this example, parliament is able to form a special commission without having to go through the formal establishment process," read the CHP proposal submitted. 

It also suggested a research visit to Palestine by representatives of all four parties in parliament, non-governmental organizations and human rights activists.

"In order for the current situation in Gaza Strip to be understood in an objective manner in Turkey and the world, it would be very significant for a parliamentary delegation to carry out investigations in the area and talk to the locals there, before sharing their findings and suggestions with the parliament and public," the proposal read, stating that the delegation could be formed with the efforts of Kahraman.

However, in his rejection of the proposal Kahraman said the proposed commission does not fit into general type of Parliament Investigative Commissions. He also noted that the Parliament Speaker's Office did not have any role in the formation of the commission regarding the 1995 clashes in the Gazi neighborhood.