Turkey strips immunity from lawmakers, clears way for trials

ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) - Turkey's parliament on Friday approved a bill to amend the constitution to strip lawmakers of immunity, a move that paves the way for trials of several pro-Kurdish and other legislators.

A total of 376 deputies in the 550-seat assembly in Ankara voted in favor of the government-backed bill, which was enough to avoid a referendum. It now needs to be ratified by the president.

The amendment was proposed by the ruling Justice and Development Party after the president accused the pro-Kurdish party, People's Democratic Party, HDP, of being an arm of outlawed Kurdish rebels and repeatedly called for their prosecution on terror related charges. It puts 138 lawmakers, the vast majority of them from two opposition parties, at risk of prosecution.

The result of the vote was criticized by the German government and by Turkish opposition lawmakers who labeled it a "political coup."

Speaking in the Black Sea town of Rize moments ahead of the final round of voting, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed hope the bill would be adopted, saying "my people don't want to see criminal deputies in parliament."

The decision coincides with a wave of violence in Turkey's southeast following the collapse of a more than two-year peace process between the state and the outlawed Kurdistan Worker's Party, or PKK.

The HDP, which backs Kurdish and other minority rights, denies accusations that it is the political arm of the PKK, considered a terrorist group by Ankara and its allies. The party has urged the government to end security operations in the southeast and to resume peace efforts.

Turkey has a history of excluding Kurds from politics and critics see the bill as an effort to wipe out the pro-Kurdish party at a time when Erdogan is trying to push forward other controversial reforms, including a constitutional amendment to transform Turkey into a presidential system.

Out of 667 legal files, 405 are against the HDP and 102 concern members of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), according to a Turkish official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak publicly on the issue.

The parliamentarians at risk of prosecution fall roughly into three categories: those who like HDP members are accused of supporting the PKK, those who are accused of insulting the president, and those under investigation for corruption or other criminal offenses.

Murat Somer, politics professor at Istanbul's Koc University, said the legal proceedings risk paralyzing parliament and weakening government oversight. The legality and constitutionality of the amendment is also likely to come under question.

"Parliament is one important platform where the opposition can voice its criticism and represent its interest but now the parliament itself will be weakened," he said. "It will create a long series of legal questions and complexities."

Turkey is undergoing a period of political transition as Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has announced he will be stepping down. On Sunday the ruling party is due to confirm an ally of the president, Binali Yildirim, as the next premier and party chairman. Many see the shake-up as one in a series of measures designed to concentrate power in the office of the presidency.

Erdogan openly aspires to introduce a presidential system - an idea rejected by opposition parties HDP and CHP.

"We find this whole process a political coup against the parliamentary system and democracy in Turkey," said Hisyar Oszoy, the HDP vice co-chair in charge of foreign affairs. "It is very clear that the target was the HDP deputies and that in this way they are trying to close the democratic political space to the Kurds and other opposition groups."

"Although we haven't been sent to prison yet, it seems that they are going to increase the dose of political repression and violence," he added, warning the Kurdish question would become even harder to resolve in Turkey.

The result of the vote caused alarm in Germany where government spokesman Steffen Seibert expressed concern "about the increasing polarization of the domestic debate in Turkey" and said it would be a topic of discussion in an upcoming meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her Turkish counterpart.

Separately, Germany's Justice Minister Heiko Maas said in a statement "lawmakers who express criticism (of the government) must not be subject to criminal prosecution. If Turkey wants to become a member of the European Union it mustn't hollow out the rule of law."

Turkey and the EU are working together to address the migrant crisis despite a series of controversies relating to human rights and press freedom in Turkey that have put pressure on their relationship.

The NATO member is also part of the U.S.-led alliance against the Islamic State group.

___

Frank Jordans and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed. Bram Janssen in Istanbul also contributed.