Turkish court remands in custody another HDP deputy

A Turkish court in southeastern Diyarbakir on Tuesday remanded in custody a People’s Democratic Party (HDP) deputy over his alleged links to PKK terrorist organisation.

Caglar Demirel is accused of “being [a] member of [an] armed terror organisation”, “making terror propaganda,” and “attending illegal meetings and demonstrations”.

Diyarbakir’s prosecutor office seeks up to 23 years in prison for Demirel, who is also the party’s group deputy chairman.

Last month, 13 HDP lawmakers were arrested, and ten of them, including HDP co-chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, remain in custody awaiting trial on terrorism-related charges.

The lawmakers face prosecution under anti-terrorism legislation after their parliamentary immunity was lifted earlier this year.

The government has accused the HDP of having links to the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US and EU.