On Thursday 8 February, MEPs warned against “continuing disproportionate actions” during the Turkish military intervention in Afrin, in a region of Syria with a Kurd majority.
In a joint resolution by the ECR, Greens/EFA, S&D, ALDE, EFDD, GUE/NGL and EPP Groups, adopted in plenary, MEPs say they are “seriously concerned about the humanitarian consequences of the Turkish assault”. They also condemn the recent arrests of journalists, activists, doctors and ordinary citizens for having expressed opposition to Turkey’s military intervention. According to the rapporteur on Turkey, Kati Piri (S&D, Netherlands), almost 500 have been arrested over the last two weeks.
In the new resolution, the Parliament reiterates its concerns regarding the deterioration in fundamental freedoms and rights and of rule of law in Turkey, and the lack of independence of the judiciary. It calls for the state of emergency to be lifted.
The Parliament considers that the attempted coup d’état on 16 July 2016, which it condemns, “is currently being used to further stifle legitimate and peaceful opposition” and, by disproportionate and illegal measures and action, to prevent the media and civil society from peacefully exercising their freedom of expression. MEPs therefore call on the Turkish authorities to “immediately and unconditionally release all those who have been detained for simply carrying out their legitimate work, exercising their freedom of expression and association, or without proof” of criminal activity.
Furthermore, the decision by a criminal court in Istanbul to keep two journalists in detention when the constitutional court had called for their release for having had their rights violated during their detention (see EUROPE 11953) represents “further deterioration of the rule of law”, the Parliament states. It also calls for the release of the Turkish president of Amnesty International, Taner Kiliç (see EUROPE 11952) and those accused with him, given that no concrete evidence has to date been produced against them.
In addition, if “terrorism continues to directly threaten the citizens of Turkey”, then counter-terrorist legislation “defined extensively, should not be used to impose sanctions on citizens and the media when they are exercising their right to freedom of expression”, the MEPs say.
During the plenary debate, on Tuesday 6 February, several MEPs called on EU leaders to speak clearly and firmly of human rights in Turkey when they meet President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Varna on 26 March this year (see EUROPE 11956). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant).