Fatma Kurtulan
Encyclopedia
Fatma Kurtulan is a Kurdish
politician of the Peace and Democracy Party
(BDP) in Turkey.
After graduating from Pazarcık
high school, Kurtulan worked on social projects in the Küçükdikili municipality in Adana
. A former president of the women's branch of HADEP, in July 2007, Kurtulan stood as an independent candidate in the Turkish parliamentary elections
and entered the Turkish Parliament.
She then joined the Democratic Society Party
(DTP). She is currently MP for Van
.
On 9 November 2007 the Turkish chief public prosecutor launched an investigation into her activities, after she visited Iraq with two other DTP politicians to obtain the release of eight Turkish soldiers held by PKK forces.
The prosecutor requested that the Turkish Parliament remove the parliamentary immunity
of all three MPs.
In the same month she admitted being married to a PKK member, adding that her husband, Samlan Kurtulan, who the media reported to be in a PKK guerilla camp in northern Iraq, had been away for 13 years and that she remained married only on paper.
In May 2009 she called for an investigation into police violence against children.
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
politician of the Peace and Democracy Party
Peace and Democracy Party
The Peace and Democracy Party ) is a political party in the Republic of Turkey. It succeeded the Democratic Society Party following the closure of the latter party for its alleged connections with the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by the EU.The BDP has observer status in the...
(BDP) in Turkey.
After graduating from Pazarcık
Pazarcık
Pazarcik is a town of Kahramanmaraş Province in Turkey. These are called an "ilce" in the Turkish language. They are simply towns in the province "il". Pazarcik is 25 km away from Marash the capital of the province Kahraman Maras...
high school, Kurtulan worked on social projects in the Küçükdikili municipality in Adana
Adana
Adana is a city in southern Turkey and a major agricultural and commercial center. The city is situated on the Seyhan River, 30 kilometres inland from the Mediterranean, in south-central Anatolia...
. A former president of the women's branch of HADEP, in July 2007, Kurtulan stood as an independent candidate in the Turkish parliamentary elections
Turkish general election, 2007
Turkey's 16th general election was held on July 22, 2007 and resulted in a resounding victory for the incumbent Justice and Development Party...
and entered the Turkish Parliament.
She then joined the Democratic Society Party
Democratic Society Party
The Democratic Society Party was a Kurdish Kurdish nationalist political party in Turkey. The party considered itself social democratic, and had observer status in the Socialist International. It was considered to be the successor of the Democratic People's Party...
(DTP). She is currently MP for Van
Van, Turkey
Van is a city in southeastern Turkey and the seat of the Kurdish-majority Van Province, and is located on the eastern shore of Lake Van. The city's official population in 2010 was 367,419, but many estimates put this as much higher with a 1996 estimate stating 500,000 and former Mayor Burhan...
.
On 9 November 2007 the Turkish chief public prosecutor launched an investigation into her activities, after she visited Iraq with two other DTP politicians to obtain the release of eight Turkish soldiers held by PKK forces.
The prosecutor requested that the Turkish Parliament remove the parliamentary immunity
Parliamentary immunity
Parliamentary immunity, also known as legislative immunity, is a system in which members of the parliament or legislature are granted partial immunity from prosecution. Before prosecuting, it is necessary that the immunity be removed, usually by a superior court of justice or by the parliament itself...
of all three MPs.
In the same month she admitted being married to a PKK member, adding that her husband, Samlan Kurtulan, who the media reported to be in a PKK guerilla camp in northern Iraq, had been away for 13 years and that she remained married only on paper.
In May 2009 she called for an investigation into police violence against children.