Istanbul Specially Authorized Prosecutor Sadrettin Sarıkaya, who this week summoned MIT Undersecretary Hakan Fidan, his predecessor Emre Taner and MİT Deputy Undersecretary Afet Güneş as well as two other MIT members to testify in the ongoing investigation into the Kurdish Communities Union (KCK), was removed from office.

After his removed his position prosecuters Adem Özcan and İsmail Işık have been appointed which Turkish prosecutors say is a group that controls the PKK and other affiliated groups.

Turkish President Abdullah Gül termed the latest developments on intelligence officials “unfortunate and saddening.” l

The comment comes after an İstanbul prosecutor overseeing an investigation into a Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) linked militant organization has asked the Ankara Prosecutor's Office to hear the testimony of National Intelligence Organization (MİT) Undersecretary Hakan Fidan, while obtaining capture warrants for four other MİT officials.

The prosecutor's move spurred a debate over whether a prosecutor is authorized to prosecute Fidan, who might, along with four other MİT officers, face charges of collaborating with the KCK. The discussion concerns whether prosecutors looking to indict or even question Fidan might need special permission from the prime minister's office, which MİT is a part of.

In rejecting MİT's appeal, prosecutor Sarıkaya pointed to Article 250 of the Code on Criminal Procedure (CMK), which says anyone accused of terrorism-related crimes loses any legal shields that they might normally have in the course of investigations regarding other crimes due to their position. This article adds that a person facing charges that fall under the scope of terrorist activities cannot benefit from any immunity, regardless of his or her rank.