Berdan Öztürk (born 1 May 1980 in Tutak) is a Turkish politician of Kurdish descent who is from the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), who has served as a Member of Parliament for the electoral district of Ağrı since 7 June 2015.
Berdan Öztürk | |
|---|---|
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| Member of the Grand National Assembly | |
| Assumed office 7 June 2015 | |
| Constituency | Ağrı (June 2015, Nov 2015, 2018) |
| Co-Chair of the Democratic Society Congress | |
| Assumed office September 2017 Serving with Leyla Güven | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 May 1980 Tutak, Turkey |
| Nationality |  Turkish |
| Political party | Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) |
| Alma mater | Marmara University |
| Occupation | Politician |
Early life and career
editÖztürk graduated from Marmara University Faculty of Law. After a year in legal work experience, he pursued a master's degree in the University of London, specialising in International Arbitration and Commercial Law. He is a freelance lawyer since 2011 and is currently pursuing a Doctorate.[1]
Political career
editIn the June 2015 general election, Öztürk was elected as a Member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey representing the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) for Ağrı.[2] He was re-elected in the snap elections of November 2015 general elections,[3] and the 2018 parliamentary elections.[4] During the 8th congress of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) on the 16 September 2017, he and Leyla Güven were elected its Co-Chairs.[5]
Prosecution
editIn 2016 an investigation was launched against Öztürk for participating in a funeral of five militants of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). He was acquitted in May 2018.[6] Due to a statement concerning the Turkish invasion of north eastern Syria he is investigated for terrorist propaganda since 2019.[7] The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) condemned his prosecution and demanded an explanation from the Turkish authorities.[8] On the 17 March 2021, the Turkish state prosecutor before the Court of Cassation Bekir Şahin filed a lawsuit before the Constitutional Court demanding for him and 686 other HDP politicians a five-year ban for political activities.[9] The lawsuit was returned to the prosecutors office on the 31 March, as the indictment did not meet the legal requirements.[10]
References
edit- ^ "Biyografi". Haberler.com. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^ "AĞRI SEÇİM SONUÇLARI - 1 KASIM 2015 GENEL SEÇİM SONUÇLARI". secim.haberler.com. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
- ^ "Ağrı Seçim Sonuçları - Genel Seçim 2018 Ağrı Sonucu". Yeni Şafak (in Turkish). 2019-05-11. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
- ^ "Ağrı Seçim Sonuçları - Genel Seçim 2018 Ağrı Sonucu". Yeni Şafak (in Turkish). 2019-05-11. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
- ^ "English – DEMOKRATİK TOPLUM KONGRESİ" (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
- ^ SCF (2018-05-08). "Turkish court gives pro-Kurdish HDP's Taşdemir suspended sentence for 'terror propaganda'". Stockholm Center for Freedom. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
- ^ "Pro-Kurdish leaders investigated by Turkey for opposing Syrian offensive". Ahval. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
- ^ "Turkey: Harassment of several HRDs as a reprisal for their calls for peace and respect of human rights in the context of the "Operation Peace Spring"". International Federation for Human Rights. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
- ^ "HDP indictment seeks political ban for 687 members, including Demirtaş, Buldan and Sancar". Bianet. Archived from the original on 2021-03-18. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
- ^ "Turkish court sends indictment seeking ban of pro-Kurdish party back to prosecutor". Reuters. 2021-03-31. Retrieved 2021-04-04.