Democracy Party (Turkey)
File:Demokrasi Partisi (DEP).png | |
Leader | Leyla Zana |
Founded | May 7, 1993 |
Banned | June 16, 1994 |
Preceded by | People's Labor Party Freedom and Democracy Party |
Succeeded by | People's Democracy Party |
Ideology | Social democracy Kurdish nationalism |
Political position | Centre-left |
The Democracy Party (Turkish: Demokrasi Partisi, DEP) was a pro-Kurdish political party in Turkey. It was founded in May 1993 by several prominent members of the People's Labor Party (HEP). The party became divided over the issue of the PKK, and two factions - moderate and radical - appeared. Due to its promotion of Kurdish nationalism the party was banned by the Constitutional Court on 16 June 1994. Six DEP deputies were arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison.[1]
Prominent party members included Leyla Zana, Mahmut Alınak, Hatip Dicle, Orhan Doğan, Ahmet Türk, Sırrı Sakık, Zübeyir Aydar and Selim Sadak.
It was succeeded by the People's Democracy Party (HADEP) established in May 1994.
In 2002, the European Court of Human Rights held DP's dissolution to be contrary to Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights (freedom of association).[2]
Footnotes
- ^ Güney 2002, 125.
- ^ ECtHR judgment on application no. 25141/94Template:Fr icon
References
- Güney, Aylin (2002). "The People's Democracy Party". Turkish Studies. 3 (1): 122–137.
- 1993 establishments in Turkey
- 1994 disestablishments in Turkey
- Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights
- Banned Kurdish parties in Turkey
- European Court of Human Rights cases involving Turkey
- Political parties established in 1993
- Political parties disestablished in 1994
- Social democratic parties
- Turkish political party stubs