Firat News Agency reported on Friday, December 15, that Turkish Parliament’s Deputy Speaker, Aysenur Bahcekapili, has suspended Baydemir and fined him for using the term ”Kurdistan” in the budget debate.

Baydemir has also been banned for two parliamentary sessions by the Turkish parliament.

“Just because it is said that we do not exist does not make us disappear. For years, the term ‘Kurdistan’ was banned and used in its place the word ‘Anatolia’ was used. However, the existence of Kurdistan is a historical, geographical and cultural fact. We did not reinvent this term,” HDP representative Dilan Dirayet Tasdemir at the Turkish parliament said, quoted by Firat news agency.

"Even in the parliamentary library, there are 128 writings in which this word occurs. We existed 1000 years ago and will still be around in 1000 years." Tasdemir said.

The HDP lawmaker used the term of “Kurdistan” during Turkish parliamentary session on December 13 while debating the Turkish budget inside the parliament.

“I, as a child of the Kurdish people, as a representative from Kurdistan, have such a role,” he said in a speech.

Turkish parliament’s deputy speaker provocatively asked Baydemir several times "Where is Kurdistan", in response Baydemir knocked proudly on his chest (heart) with his head raised and answers: "Kurdistan is right here, right here.”

Following the parliament’s decision to ban Baydemir for two sessions, HDP lawmakers protested the decision and left the parliament.

Hurriyet Daily News reported that deputies who use the term of “Kurdistan” are banned from a total of three General Assembly sessions and two thirds of their salary are cut.

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