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Berdan Öztürk
Turkish politician (born 1980)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
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(2023-present)
affiliations
(2015-2023)
Berdan Öztürk | |
|---|---|
| |
| Member of the Grand National Assembly | |
| Assumed office 7 June 2015 | |
| Constituency | Ağrı (June 2015, Nov 2015, 2018) Diyarbakır (2023) |
| Co-Chair of the Democratic Society Congress | |
| Assumed office September 2017 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 May 1980 |
| Party | Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) (2023-present) |
Other political affiliations | Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) (2015-2023) |
| Alma mater | Marmara University |
| Occupation | Politician |
Early life and career
Öztürk 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
In 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
In 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 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 31 March, as the indictment did not meet the legal requirements.[10]