The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has again expressed concern about continued human rights violations against MPs worldwide and the lack of respect for their parliamentary immunity.

During its January 2017 session, IPU’s Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians adopted decisions on the cases of 227 MPs from 16 countries. Over 100 MPs are from just three countries, Malaysia, Nicaragua and Turkey.

The Committee reviewed the cases of close to 60 MPs from Turkey, 55 of whom are from the opposition People’s Democratic Party (HDP) that are currently facing over 500 terrorism and criminal charges, following the wholesale lifting of their parliamentary immunity in May 2016.

The Committee has expressed grave concern about the detention conditions of the imprisoned HDP MPs, and called for their immediate release pending trial, as Turkey’s laws allow. Further it has requested additional information from the authorities on the evidence underlying the case, given that the complainants allege that the MPs are being prosecuted for peaceful political statements and activities, thus violating their legitimate rights to freedom of speech, assembly and association.

The Committee has also reiterated its concern that the current legal action prevents these Turkish MPs from carrying out their parliamentary responsibilities, including in relation to improving the tense and precarious security situation in their constituencies in southeastern Turkey.

The Committee has decided to send a delegation to Turkey to gain a better understanding of the situation including consultations with the detained parliamentarians.