Repression in Turkey: European Parliament Must Take Strong Stand

EuropeanParliament Must Take Strong Stand

In the last week, Turkish citizens, human rights defenders, trade unionsand civil society organisations have come under attack by the Turkishgovernment. What started as a peaceful demonstration has turned into a violentclash with the Turkish police and security services.

In the protests, at least 3 people died and more than 2800 people wereinjured in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. Reports indicate that about 3000 peoplewere taken into custody and many allegedly subjected to ill-treatment; severalsources reported the disproportional use of gas and chemical substances tocrackdown on the protests; and media sourcesreported over 25 twitter activists have been detained and placed in custody.

SOLIDAR, İnsan Hakları Derneği (İHD),Euro-Mediterranean Human RightsNetwork, World Organisation Against Torture(OMCT), the International Federation ofHuman Rights League (FIDH),ISCOS CISL and other humanrights organisations and trade unions have developed a draftresolution for the European Parliament in the run up to the plenary debate inStrasbourg on the situation in Turkey next Wednesday.

This draft resolutionoutlines the following recommendations urging the Turkish government to:

· Put an end to police violence and acts of ill-treatment againstprotestors to prevent further deaths and injuries.

· Stop the detention of protesters, human rights activists and socialmedia activists under the pretence of fighting terrorism.

· Release all peaceful protestors from prison who were taken into custodyduring protests in Turkey and guarantee neither administrative nor judicialinvestigations will be initiated against them.

· Guarantee and respect the full right to freedom of expression, of peacefulassembly and of peaceful protest for all citizens.

· Guarantee the right to freedom of expression and press freedom for alljournalists, bloggers, social media activists and human rights defenders.

· Guarantee the implementation of all signed and ratified internationalstandards, conventions and agreements.

· In particular, abide by the Convention against Torture and other Cruel,Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, as well as by the InternationalCovenant on Political and Civil Rights that protects freedom of expression andpeaceful assembly.

· Reform the legal framework, the penal code and the anti-terror law tostop criminalising peaceful protests and civil activities based on theircontent.

· Issue an immediate, independent and impartial investigation intoallegations of excessive use of force and ill-treatment against protestors,prosecute those who are found guilty and ensure that those who are politicallyaccountable take their responsibility.

· Seek a peaceful solution through dialogue and debate, taking intoaccount the demands and well-being of all Turkish citizens.

The European Union, in the year it received the Nobel Peace Prize, hasto take a strong stand against violence against peaceful protestors, againsthuman rights violations and encroachment on the freedom of association andpeaceful assembly in Turkey and the rest of the world. The human rightsdefenders, trade unions and civil society organisations that contributed tothis draft resolution will continue to closely monitor the developments inTurkey.