Turkey's electoral commission has ruled a newly elected Kurdish politician cannot take his seat in parliament because of a prior terrorism-related conviction.

The High Electoral Board ruled late Tuesday that Hatip Dicle is not eligible for Turkey's new parliament, after winning a seat in the June 12 election.

Days before the vote, an appeals court confirmed Dicle's conviction in a case in which he was accused of making propaganda on behalf of Kurdish rebels. He was sentenced to 20 months in prison.

Dicle is one of several lawmakers backed by a Kurdish party who were elected to parliament earlier this month.

In 2004, an appeals court freed Dicle and three other Kurdish lawmakers after they spent 10 years in jail for ties to separatist guerrillas.