The “Kurdish-Islamic” party of Huda Bar, which presented candidates for parliament on the lists of the ruling Justice and Development Party, and won 4 of them, announced its objection to the text of the parliamentary oath.
Party spokesman Serkan Ramenli, who was elected as an MP, said in remarks that the parliamentary oath read at the Grand National Assembly should be changed.
Ramnelli attributed this to the fact that “the text of this oath is not the appropriate text for me”, considering that the oath serves a specific ideology, and continued: “It was a mistake. The text of the oath must be changed and it is included in our party program.”
The oath taken by MPs before taking office in Parliament states: “I will protect the existence and independence of the state, the indivisible unity of the fatherland and the nation, the unconditional sovereignty of the nation, and I will respect the rule of law, the democratic and secular republic, and the principles and reforms of Atatürk; I swear on my honor and dignity before the great Turkish nation that I will not turn away For the ideal of the enjoyment by all of human rights and fundamental freedoms with an understanding of well-being, national solidarity , justice and loyalty to the constitution.
It appears from the text that it does not correspond to the claims of some Kurds, who differ in their ideologies and objectives from the secular and nationalist doctrine of Kemal Atatürk who does not accept multiple identities.
Fragile Alliance
Turkish political analyst, Jawdat Kamel, comments to ‘Sky News Arabia’ on the decision of the ‘Huda Bar’ party and how it ended up on the ruling party’s lists.
• This party is “known for its tendency towards extremism”, and is linked to the Turkish Hezbollah, which has been dissolved and was previously classified as a terrorist group.
• The party ran on the ruling party lists because the Justice and Development Party wanted to compete for the Kurdish vote, while most Kurds tended to vote for the opposition coalition (the Democratic People’s Party, the largest party affiliated with the Kurds, supported the opposition coalition “Umma” in the elections).
• This party has no objection to the only parliamentary oath which affirms fidelity to the secular ideas of Atatürk, but also rejects the non-modifiable supra-constitutional articles relating to the identity of the State and its secular system.
• The majority of Kurds align themselves with the Peoples’ Democratic Party, while the “Huda Bar” party is not very popular among them and has never won an election before appearing on the party lists this time in power.
• We are now hearing tones of objection to the oath and the constitution; Because the party adopts the idea of establishing an “Islamic caliphate”.
It comes as Turkey prepares for the second round of presidential elections on May 28 amid intense competition between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and opposition candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.
Who is the Hoda Bar party?
• Won 4 seats in the 2023 legislative elections, for the first time, after joining the Justice and Development lists.
• Founded on December 19, 2012 and also known as “Free Call”.
• Its popular base is concentrated in the south-east of Turkey and its approval rating varies between 0.5 and 1%.
• Has a rivalry with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is classified in Turkey as a terrorist organization with separatist tendencies, and supporters of Hizb al-Huda among the “conservative Islamists” of the Kurds.
• Party leader Zakaria Yacıoğlu has announced his support for Erdogan in the presidential elections, as he previously backed him in 2018.
• Party members took to the streets in the east and south-east of the country; To counter the failed coup attempt against Erdogan on July 15, 2016.
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