HÜDA PAR Chairman Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu has called on all Members of Parliament to support proposed legislation aimed at prosecuting and punishing perpetrators of genocide and crimes against humanity.

The proposals also include provisions for stripping dual citizens of their Turkish nationality and confiscating their assets.

Speaking on a TV program, Yapıcıoğlu outlined the details of the proposed amendments to the citizenship law. He emphasized the importance of the legislation, stating, "We ask all 594 MPs in Parliament to support this proposal. This is not just a matter for any single party or Türkiye alone; it concerns all humanity."

Yapıcıoğlu highlighted HÜDA PAR's long-standing opposition to the ongoing violence in Palestine, particularly in Gaza. "A very serious genocide has been committed in Gaza for about eight months. This cruelty has outraged the conscience of people globally and mobilized civil society. Despite increasing awareness, the global system remains inactive against the oppressor," he said.

He referenced the ongoing process in the International Court of Justice, initiated by South Africa and supported by other countries, which seeks to prosecute Zionist officials for genocide. The prosecutor has requested arrest warrants for five individuals, although previous precautionary measures have not been implemented.

Yapıcıoğlu criticized the United Nations, calling its structure unsustainable and inadequate for establishing justice or world peace. He expressed hope that the "October 7 Aksa Flood" would spark global reactions and lead to a new system. "Inshallah, the October 7 Aksa Flood will break out in such a way that the reactions will grow over time, spread all over the world, and shake this global system to its foundations. Perhaps the world will begin to feel the need to establish a new system more strongly," he said.

Yapıcıoğlu stressed that Zionists respond only to power, not to diplomatic pleas or condemnations. He praised the trial in The Hague as a positive step forward. "It is clearly understood that they will not stop with diplomatic words, demands, and condemnations," he stated.

The proposed bill, expected to be discussed in the General Assembly before Eid al-Adha, includes four main points:

1. Prosecuting Crimes Against Humanity: Allowing Turkish courts to prosecute crimes against humanity committed by non-citizens against foreign nationals, upon request by the Minister of Justice or a parliamentary decision. "Türkiye is a signatory to international conventions on the prevention of crimes of genocide against humanity. In accordance with the principle of universality of these crimes, if a person who is not a citizen of the Republic of Türkiye commits this crime against a citizen of another country on the territory of another country, Türkiye gives the right to prosecute this crime to its own courts," Yapıcıoğlu explained. He argued that since Parliament has the authority to declare war and approve international agreements, it should also have the authority to initiate prosecutions for crimes against humanity. "We say let's make an amendment on this issue. The parliament has the authority to decide on the declaration of war. The parliament has the authority to approve or disapprove international agreements. If this is the case, the peak of the deterioration of international relations is war. Why doesn't the Parliament, which has the authority even to declare war, have such an authority? We say that when such a decision is taken in the parliament, prosecutors should investigate these crimes."

2. Punishing Genocide Perpetrators: Imposing severe penalties for enlisting in foreign militaries and participating in genocide. Yapıcıoğlu noted that dual citizens participating in such crimes should be prosecuted under Turkish law. "Another amendment is that it is now a crime to enlist soldiers on behalf of a foreign country. It is also a crime to recruit soldiers for a country. But not only that. Genocide is a crime that requires the most severe punishment in our laws. It has been reflected on social media and in the media; some people are citizens of the Republic of Türkiye, but at the same time they have dual passports and they go and fight there in that Zionist spirit, knowing that the crime committed there is a crime of genocide. They go and wear uniforms on behalf of Israel and participate in these crimes. Some of them even take photos and post them on social media praising their massacres. You don't prosecute Zionists who commit genocide because you can't reach them because they are not your citizens... Then let's start with our own citizens. It is already a crime in itself to go and enlist as a soldier in favor of a foreign country and participate in a war. Now, let's take action against citizens who go there and commit a crime that the whole world recognizes as a crime and that is recognized by the jurisdiction of many countries. We say that those who go there and continue their military service despite committing these crimes should be punished."

3. Stripping Dual Citizens of Turkish Nationality: Denaturalizing dual citizens who refuse to testify in Turkish courts and confiscating their assets. These assets would be transferred to the Family and Youth Fund to support marriage for low-income youth. "We are saying one more thing. We say that when you summon these people to the country to testify, if they do not come to account before the court, strip them of their citizenship and confiscate all their assets in Türkiye. These confiscated assets should be transferred to the Family and Youth Fund and used for the marriage of poor young people."

4. Call to Action for MPs: Urging all political parties and MPs to support the legislation, emphasizing its global humanitarian significance. "Lastly, from here, we ask all political parties in the parliament, all 594 MPs in the parliament to support this proposal. This is not something that concerns only any party or even only Türkiye, but something that concerns all humanity."

The call for stricter legislation comes in the wake of escalating Israeli aggression in Palestine, particularly in Gaza, where Yapıcıoğlu emphasized the urgent need for action. "The ongoing genocide in Gaza for about eight months demands immediate and decisive measures. This violence has shocked the global conscience and galvanized civil society. It's time for the international community to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and hold perpetrators of these atrocities accountable," he urged.

Yapıcıoğlu's passionate advocacy for legislative reform echoes the widespread sentiment of solidarity with Palestine, particularly in light of the ongoing atrocities in Gaza. By highlighting the urgency of addressing crimes against humanity and the need for a global response, he underscores the importance of standing up for justice and human rights, especially in the face of oppression and violence against the Palestinian people. (ILKHA)