Turkish Parliamentary chair Mustafa Şentop disallowed a parliamentary inquiry into recent allegations of chemical weapon use by Turkish troops in military operations on Iraqi soil, saying the subject was among those that “cannot be asked” as per parliament bylaws.
The inquiry, submitted by Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) group co-chairs Meral Danış Beştaş and Saruhan Oluç, also involved “personal opinions”, Mezopotamya Agency cited Şentop as saying in his response on Wednesday.
Beştaş and Oluç had asked if the Turkish Armed Forces or other unconventional force acting in line with them had used weapons or ammunition in Iraq or Syria that was not listed in the official army inventory.
The MPs also asked Defence Minister Hulusi Akar whether the ministry had launched an investigation into the allegations, or planned to invite international delegations to investigate.
The current allegations stem from the People’s Defence Forces (HPG), the military wing of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) who released a video in mid-October showing two Kurdish fighters seizing and delirious reportedly under the influence of banned chemicals. Turkey denies all accusations.
