The S&D Group initiated a resolution on the human rights situation in Turkey, which was adopted today by a large majority. The EP emphasizes the structural problems that exist, like the state of emergency and the arbitrariness of the judiciary. But also individual human rights cases are mentioned. 

 

 

"The numbers are mind-boggling. More than 100,000 people have been fired and over 50,000 imprisoned in Turkey. Remember that all these people have a face, have a family, have friends who are hoping that normalization is still possible.

 

"The scale of the current crackdown on all democratic opposition voices in Turkey is unprecedented. While the Turkish authorities have the right to bring those responsible for the heinous coup attempt of 15 July 2016 to justice, the state of emergency is currently being used to silence dissent and goes way beyond any legitimate measures to combat threats to national security.

 

"The dismantling of the rule of law became clearly visible when a local penal court refused to implement the Constitutional Court's decision to release two jailed journalists. Another travesty of justice was the re-arrest of the Chair of Amnesty International Turkey by the same judge who had ordered his release just hours earlier.

 

"The S&D Group expects the EU to be loud and clear on human rights in Turkey. Not only because these are the values that our Union is based upon, and Turkey as a candidate should adhere to them. But also because we risk losing credibility and support by a majority of Turkish society if we don’t stand up for their rights in these dark times."