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PERSECUTION OF KURDISH MPS

EDM (Early Day Motion) 761: tabled on 10 January 2018

Tabled in the 2017-19 session.

This motion has been signed by 35 Members. It has not yet had any amendments submitted.

Motion text

That this House expresses grave concern over the sentencing of elected Kurdish MP Idris Baluken on 4 January 2018 to 16 years and eight months in jail; notes that Mr Baluken has been an elected parliamentarian in Turkey since 2011, and has played an active role as a mediator in peace process negotiations between the Turkish state and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK); further expresses concern that on 5 January 2018 former MP Sebahat Tuncel was sentenced to two years and three months in prison for speaking at a Kurdish New Year event; further notes that Tuncel, a women's rights advocate and former nurse, was targeted for her advocacy for Kurdish rights and senior position in the Peoples' Democratic Party; expresses concern over the sentencing to prison of four other HDP officials and MPs Aysel Tugluk, Leyla Birlik, Nursel Aydoglan and Adem Geveri; condemns the political nature of these arrests and trials which took place in the context of a state of emergency, along with the simultaneous arrest of almost 100 HDP elected politicians and thousands of activists (EDM 602); condemns this attempt to eliminate Kurdish MPs from the Turkish parliament, denying millions of their democratic voice; expresses concern that the judiciary seems to be guided in these matters by the Turkish Government; notes that this judicial process has been described by Idris Baluken as political genocide; calls for the immediate release of HDP politicians from prison; and further calls for the Government to urge Turkey to stop its politically-motivated repression of the HDP.

The first 6 Members who have signed to support the motion are the sponsors. The primary sponsor is generally the person who tabled the motion and has responsibility for it. The date shown is when the Member signed the motion.

In addition to the sponsors, the following Members have signed to support the motion.

Bardell, Hannah
Scottish National Party
Signed on 17 January 2018
Livingston
Blackman, Bob
Conservative
Signed on 11 January 2018
Harrow East
Bottomley, Sir Peter
Conservative
Signed on 15 January 2018
Worthing West
Brown, Alan
Scottish National Party
Signed on 22 January 2018
Kilmarnock and Loudoun
Campbell, Mr Ronnie
Labour
Signed on 17 January 2018
Blyth Valley
Cunningham, Mr Jim
Labour
Signed on 11 January 2018
Coventry South
Davey, Sir Edward
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 18 January 2018
Kingston and Surbiton
Day, Martyn
Scottish National Party
Signed on 11 January 2018
Linlithgow and East Falkirk
Edwards, Jonathan
Plaid Cymru
Signed on 15 January 2018
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Gapes, Mike
Labour
Signed on 24 January 2018
Ilford South
Gethins, Stephen
Scottish National Party
Signed on 24 January 2018
North East Fife
Glindon, Mary
Labour
Signed on 17 January 2018
North Tyneside
Hendry, Drew
Scottish National Party
Signed on 22 January 2018
Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey
Hepburn, Mr Stephen
Labour
Signed on 22 January 2018
Jarrow
Hermon, Lady
Independent
Signed on 18 January 2018
North Down
Hopkins, Kelvin
Independent
Signed on 17 January 2018
Luton North
Law, Chris
Scottish National Party
Signed on 17 January 2018
Dundee West
Lucas, Caroline
Green Party
Signed on 18 January 2018
Brighton, Pavilion
Martin, Sandy
Labour
Signed on 19 January 2018
Ipswich
Morgan, Stephen
Labour
Signed on 16 January 2018
Portsmouth South
Newlands, Gavin
Scottish National Party
Signed on 16 January 2018
Paisley and Renfrewshire North
Rimmer, Ms Marie
Labour
Signed on 15 January 2018
St Helens South and Whiston
Russell-Moyle, Lloyd
Labour
Signed on 15 January 2018
Brighton, Kemptown
Saville Roberts, Liz
Plaid Cymru
Signed on 15 January 2018
Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Shannon, Jim
Democratic Unionist Party
Signed on 11 January 2018
Strangford
Sheppard, Tommy
Scottish National Party
Signed on 17 January 2018
Edinburgh East
Skinner, Mr Dennis
Labour
Signed on 11 January 2018
Bolsover
Walker, Thelma
Labour
Signed on 18 January 2018
Colne Valley
Williamson, Chris
Labour
Signed on 25 January 2018
Derby North

There are no withdrawn signatures for this motion.