ANKARA - The status of HDP Kocaeli MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu as an MP will be reinstated today. The general assembly of the parliament is expected to give his MP status back at 14.00.

 

It is reported that the parliamentary seat of Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Kocaeli MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu, who was jailed and released months later after his membership in parliament was revoked, will be returned to him today.

 

The HDP deputy had been stripped of his MP status on March 17, 2021.

 

The general assembly of the parliament is expected to give his MP status back at 14.00.

 

Gergerlioğlu was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison on February 21, 2018, over the charge of “making propaganda for a terrorist organization” by the Kocaeli 2nd High Criminal Court for a retweet he had shared on social media in 2016.

 

Gergerlioğlu was removed from parliament after the sentence given to him was upheld by the 16th Penal Chamber of the Court of Cassation.  Gergerlioğlu, who carried out a justice vigil in the Parliament, was detained on the fifth day of his protest and released on the same day. He was then taken into custody and jailed 11 days later. Gergerlioğlu was released from prison on July 6 following a ruling of the Constitutional Court that his rights had been violated.

 

THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE HAS WON

 

Gergerlioğlu announced the decision on his Twitter account and said: "Finally :) The decision for my reinstatement is being read today. After the decision is read at 14.30, I will enter the parliament as an MP. No one can take the right given by the people unlawfully. The will of the people has won."