Thirty-five politicians, backed by a Kurdish party, will not attend sessions until the government takes “concrete steps” that would allow Kurdish politician Hatip Dicle to take his seat, said Serafettin Elci, a Kurdish politician who is among the group.

Another politician told The Associated Press the 35 would not take the oath of office when the 550-member legislature convenes next week or attend any of its proceedings. He asked not to be named, citing the sensitivity of the issue.

The dispute is another indication of the deep strains in Turkey involving its Kurdish minority, some of whom are fighting an insurgency for autonomy.

In Turkey, a party must win at least 10 percent of the popular vote to win any seats in Parliament. All 36 of the Kurdish politicians ran as independents, knowing that if they competed as a Kurdish party, they would never win enough votes nationwide.

On Tuesday, Turkey’s High Electoral Board ruled that Dicle does not qualify to become a legislator because of his recent conviction on terrorism-related charges. A high court confirmed his conviction and a 20-month prison sentence, days before the June 12 elections. Dicle is accused of orchestrating propaganda on behalf of a Kurdish rebel group.

Dicle’s parliamentary seat went to a candidate from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party.

Erdogan’s party urged the lawmakers to avoid moves that could increase tensions.

“We invite the legislators to struggle for (their rights) within democratic norms, inside Parliament which is the heart of democracy,” said senior party official Bekir Bozdag.

Long periods of absenteeism by the 35 Kurdish legislators could cause them to lose their seats in Parliament — which in turn, could trigger by-elections, Turkish newspapers said.

Hundreds of Kurds on Thursday staged protests in at least four cities, including the capital Ankara, to support Dicle, said state-run Anatolia news agency and pro-Kurdish Firat news agency.

Dicle, who is imprisoned, was first elected to Parliament in 1991. He was stripped of his parliamentary immunity in 1994 and spent 10 years in prison for links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK.

Also on Thursday, a court in Istanbul ruled that two other opposition politicians cannot be released from jail, despite winning seats in the elections.

Journalist Mustafa Balbay and Mehmet Haberal, a surgeon and founder of a university, are on trial, accused of being part of an alleged secularist plot to bring down Erdogan’s government.

The two have denied the charges.

The opposition Republican People’s Party argues they are entitled to parliamentary immunity that would free them from jail. The party was expected to appeal the court ruling.

The opposition party has criticized the trial of hundreds of alleged coup plotters as a government attempt to muzzle dissent, an allegation that the government rejects.