Following the imprisonment of the Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, on 23 March, and the demonstrations that followed, Michael O’Flaherty, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, said on Monday 24 March that he was “following with concern reports of disproportionate use of force by the police and widespread restrictions on the right to receive and impart information in Turkey”.
He calls on the Turkish authorities to “uphold their human rights obligations with regard to respect for freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of expression and media freedom”.
Emphasising that the acts of violence committed by some demonstrators do not justify excessive use of force by the police, the Commissioner points out that the case law of the European Court of Human Rights requires that such use of force be “a measure of last resort and must meet strict standards of necessity and proportionality”.
He also expresses concern at the serious infringements of journalists’ rights and the severe restrictions on access to online information.
The Commissioner calls for the release of those detained for legitimately exercising their human rights, asks the authorities to fulfil their obligations so that journalists can cover the demonstrations, and announces that he will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Link to the Declaration: https://aeur.eu/f/g3z (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)