Pro-Kurdish legislators end boycott of parliament

AFP , Saturday 1 Oct 2011

A pro-Kurdish party says it has ended its four-month-old boycott of the parliament as its lawmakers joined the legislative body to take their oath to assume office

Selahattin Demirtas, the chairman of the Peace and Democracy Party, says Saturday that they are joining the parliament to work for peace and "equal rights for all citizens." The party says about 30 lawmakers will take their oath in the 550-seat parliament which is convening following summer recess.

The pro-Kurdish lawmakers have been rejecting to take an oath of office after their election in June since they have been demanding the release of five pro-Kurdish lawmakers held on allegations of ties to Kurdish rebels, who are fighting for autonomy in the Kurdish-dominated southeast.

Short link: