Charter talks should be suspended until arrested MPs released: HDP

An ongoing debate in Turkey's parliament on a proposed new charter violates the current constitution and universal law, People's Democracy Party (HDP) lawmaker Mithat Sancar has said, demanding constitutional talks be halted until imprisoned HDP lawmakers are freed.

"It is against the constitution to conduct these negotiations on these terms. It is against the constitution to conduct these meetings without releasing our [parliamentarian] friends. For this reason, we demand that the negotiations be stopped," Sancar said during a charter debate in the parliamentary constitution committee meeting on Dec. 27.

Noting that 12 HDP lawmakers, including the co-leaders of the party, are currently imprisoned on terror allegations, Sancar said the HDP should not be prevented from participating in the crucial talks. 

"Preventing this group [HDP] from participating in the constitutional works is against Article 80 and 83 of the current constitution, but more importantly, against the basic principle which states that the sovereignty belongs to the nation," Sancar said.

"Our co-leaders and lawmakers' imprisonment also makes the talks in the general assembly against the constitution. The next step is a referendum. If this arrest continues, the referendum will be contrary to the constitution and universal principles," Sancar added.

Sancar argued that the discussions were being held without duly informing society.

"In such an environment, it is not possible for us to make a liberal and democratic constitution. This proposal will completely remove Turkey from its existing limited and defective democracy … A one-man administration will result in a typically authoritarian pattern," Sancar said.