The Turkish government has proposed a new law which will ban the use of the words and terms 'Kurdistan', 'Kurdish city/cities' and 'Armenian Genocide' in parliament.

The Turkish government has proposed a new law which will ban the use of the words and terms 'Kurdistan', 'Kurdish city/cities' and 'Armenian Genocide' in parliament.

Parliamentarians who use these words or terms will be fined 12,000 Turkish Liras (3000 Euros) and be banned from participating in three sessions in the Grand Assembly.

Carrying placards, which opposition parties regularly do to criticise the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government, will also be banned.

The new law is expected to be passed with support from the AKP and ultra-nationalist MHP. The parties entered a de-facto coalition following last year's coup attemp, which has brought about the silencing of all opposition forces in the country, including the media.

The words and terms being banned are only used by the left-wing Kurdish-issue focused Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and the move has been viewed as another step in oppressing the party.

At least 12 HDP lawmakers have been behind bars since Novemeber 2016, including the party's co-leader Selahattin Demirtas. The government has also seized more than 80 Kurdish administered municipalities and imprisoned at least 8,000 Kurdish and pro-Kurdish rights activists.

Source: Agencies