ANKARA - The ECHR ruled on the individual application filed by HDP MP Filiz Kerestecioğlu regarding the lifting of her immunity, stating that her freedom of expression was violated, and ruled that Filiz was paid 5000 Euros for immaterial compensation.

 

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decided on the individual application of Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Ankara MP Filiz Kerestecioğlu to lift her immunity.

 

The ECHR reminded that the Constitutional amendment made on May 20, 2016, is within the scope of the "fight against terrorism" and that the MPs cannot be convicted under these laws for expressing their political opinions.

 

Freedom of expression decision and compensation

 

In its decision regarding Filiz, the ECHR stated that freedom of expression was violated. The court ruled with six votes against one that the Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which regulates the right to freedom of expression, has been violated. It ordered Filiz to be paid a total of 5000 Euros for immaterial compensation and 4000 Euros for court costs.

 

‘Fortunately, there are women lawyers’

 

Announcing the ECHR's decision on her social media account, Filiz shared: "Today, the ECHR has ruled that my application regarding the lifting of my immunity is violated under Article 10. Many thanks to my dear lawyers Ayşe Akkaya, Gülşah Kaya, and to Ayşe Bingöl who dealed even from afar. Fortunately, there are women lawyers. Fortunately, we have solidarity that makes our labor visible."

 

What happened?

 

On May 20, 2016, the Constitutional amendment proposal for the abolition of the immunity of all deputies, whose summary was prepared, was accepted in the parliament. HDP Ankara MP Filiz Kerestecioğlu, who was prosecuted after the verdict, was acquitted twice, but the prosecutor's office objected to the acquittal verdicts. Filiz applied to the ECHR on November 11, 2016, regarding the decision to lift the immunities.