EU Parliament condemns repression of Turkish opposition
With 603 votes in favour and two against MEPs adopted a resolution condemning the ongoing violence. There is a "dire" situation in the country in terms of human rights and a "continuous erosion of democracy and the rule of law. Journalist sentenced to 11 months in prison for "insulting the president".
Brussels (AsiaNews/Agencies) - The European Parliament has adopted a resolution condemning the ongoing repression the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), a formation that unites Kurdish forces and the left by the Turkish government. The signatories of the document stress that this retreat "reveals the dire human rights situation in Turkey and the continued erosion of democracy and the rule of law."
The text was approved with 603 votes in favour and only two against. Promoted by Christian Democrats, Social Democrats, Greens and Leftists, it condemns "the repression of opposition political parties, particularly the HDP, and urged the government to ensure that all parties can freely and fully exercise their legitimate activities in accordance with the basic principles of a pluralist and democratic system."
The European politicians express "deep concern" about "this serious backsliding on the freedom of the opposition parties to function” in Turkey. The document recalls the "about 4 thousand Hdp members and officials who remain a prison, including some parliamentarians" who have had their "function and diplomatic immunity revoked" and then arrested.
Referring to the deadly armed attack on the HDP İzmir office, the resolution has also "strongly condemned" the incident, expressed its condolences to the relatives and friends of Deniz Poyraz, urging the authorities to investigate the case thoroughly and bring those responsible to justice."
Finally, the EP called for "refraining from fomenting" incitement to violence and "taking the necessary measures to protect the party's offices and officials, including elected parliamentarians and local councilors and mayors."
Concluding the resolution, the European Parliament said that relations with Turkey must be linked "to the improvement of civil and human rights," including "women's rights" guaranteed by the Istanbul Convention recently disavowed by Ankara, as well as "religious freedom, the rights of minorities and LGBTI communities."
In spite of the appeals, the situation in the country remains critical: the news of the sentencing to 11 months in prison for the journalist Cem Şimşek, who ended up on trial on charges of "insulting the president" Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
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15/07/2021 09:33
15/04/2005
