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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Parliament in Turkey backs lifting immunity from prosecution | Parliament in Turkey backs lifting immunity from prosecution |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Turkish parliament has approved a controversial bill that will strip MPs of their immunity from prosecution. | The Turkish parliament has approved a controversial bill that will strip MPs of their immunity from prosecution. |
| Pro-Kurdish lawmakers say this is essentially a move to expel opposition members from parliament. | Pro-Kurdish lawmakers say this is essentially a move to expel opposition members from parliament. |
| The measure is seen as targeting the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) as well as the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). | The measure is seen as targeting the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) as well as the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). |
| Turkey has led an offensive against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), accused of being a terror group. | Turkey has led an offensive against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), accused of being a terror group. |
| A ceasefire ended weeks after elections in June 2015. The renewed conflict has claimed hundreds of lives on both sides, particularly in the south-east. | A ceasefire ended weeks after elections in June 2015. The renewed conflict has claimed hundreds of lives on both sides, particularly in the south-east. |
| President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accuses the HDP of being the PKK's political arm, and has called for pro-Kurdish MPs to face terrorism charges. | President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accuses the HDP of being the PKK's political arm, and has called for pro-Kurdish MPs to face terrorism charges. |
| This vote could be a first step towards making that happen. | This vote could be a first step towards making that happen. |
| Calling the move "historic" as lawmakers voted, Mr Erdogan told a crowd in his hometown of Rize: "My people do not want to see guilty lawmakers in this parliament." | Calling the move "historic" as lawmakers voted, Mr Erdogan told a crowd in his hometown of Rize: "My people do not want to see guilty lawmakers in this parliament." |
| 'Blow to people's will' | 'Blow to people's will' |
| Critics also say the move aims to strengthen the ruling AK Party and consolidate support in the assembly for the executive presidential system Mr Erdogan wants to implement. | Critics also say the move aims to strengthen the ruling AK Party and consolidate support in the assembly for the executive presidential system Mr Erdogan wants to implement. |
| HDP co-leader Selahattin Demirtas said it was a blow against the people's will and could not be accepted as democratic. | |
| He said the party would challenge the decision at Turkey's top court. | He said the party would challenge the decision at Turkey's top court. |
| A dangerous moment: Mark Lowen, BBC News, Ankara | |
| The pro-Kurdish HDP party says the government is using trumped-up charges to push their party out of parliament and allow President Erdogan to change the constitution and boost his own powers. | The pro-Kurdish HDP party says the government is using trumped-up charges to push their party out of parliament and allow President Erdogan to change the constitution and boost his own powers. |
| The government rejects that claim, saying MPs should be accountable before the law. In a country with faith in its democracy and judicial independence, that would be the accepted view. | The government rejects that claim, saying MPs should be accountable before the law. In a country with faith in its democracy and judicial independence, that would be the accepted view. |
| But in Turkey there are deep misgivings about both and Mr Erdogan is seen by critics as increasingly authoritarian - hence the concerns. | But in Turkey there are deep misgivings about both and Mr Erdogan is seen by critics as increasingly authoritarian - hence the concerns. |
| If several HDP MPs are arrested, there are fears it could spark worse violence in Kurdish areas, where people could feel deprived of a voice in parliament. And so this is a dangerous moment for Turkey and a test of how far Mr Erdogan is willing to go to secure his position. | If several HDP MPs are arrested, there are fears it could spark worse violence in Kurdish areas, where people could feel deprived of a voice in parliament. And so this is a dangerous moment for Turkey and a test of how far Mr Erdogan is willing to go to secure his position. |
| The bill was backed by 376 MPs in the 550-seat legislature in the third and final vote of a secret ballot. | |
| This means it will become law directly without being put to a referendum. It now needs to be ratified by the president. | |
| Some 138 lawmakers, the vast majority from the two opposition parties, could be at risk of prosecution. | Some 138 lawmakers, the vast majority from the two opposition parties, could be at risk of prosecution. |
| Violent scuffles marred parliamentary debates this month, with frustrated lawmakers exchanging fisticuffs and kicks. | Violent scuffles marred parliamentary debates this month, with frustrated lawmakers exchanging fisticuffs and kicks. |
| Friday's vote was not without incident as CHP lawmakers walked out in protest. | Friday's vote was not without incident as CHP lawmakers walked out in protest. |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman said she would raise concerns over the state of democracy in Turkey when she met Mr Erdogan next week. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman said she would raise concerns over the state of democracy in Turkey when she met Mr Erdogan next week. |
| Mrs Merkel, who has led the push to conclude a migrant deal with Ankara, has been criticised by human rights groups for turning a blind eye to violations in Turkey in return for co-operation. | Mrs Merkel, who has led the push to conclude a migrant deal with Ankara, has been criticised by human rights groups for turning a blind eye to violations in Turkey in return for co-operation. |
| One of the most disputed issues is about Turkey's refusal to comply with EU demands to narrow anti-terror laws, accused of being used to intimidate journalists and stifle dissent. | |
| The government denies it, saying it needs the laws to fight militants. |