Following the arrests of several more elected local politicians in Turkey, the S&D Group has today expressed serious concerns about freedom of expression and pluralism in the country and called on the Turkish authorities not to use the failed military coup d’état as an excuse for attacking the media, journalists and writers. The European Parliament will vote tomorrow on a resolution setting out these concerns.
S&D MEP and European Parliament rapporteur on Turkey Kati Piri said:
“We fully acknowledge the legitimate right of the Turkish government to investigate the heinous coup attempt on the 15 July, but at the same time we strongly condemn the massive crackdown on journalists, writers and academics – without any proof that they have been involved in any criminal activity.
"The S&D Group supports the #FreeThemAll campaign launched by the International Federation of Journalists, urging the Turkish government to immediately and unconditionally release the 130 journalists in jail.
"The recent arrest of the co-mayors of Diyarbakir, Gültan Kisanak and Firat Anli, is of much concern and shows how the freedom of expression is under great pressure even for democratically elected politicians. We urge the Turkish authorities to release them immediately."
S&D vice-president Knut Fleckenstein MEP said:
"The S&D Group underlines that human rights and the rule of law in Turkey must be upheld and the principles of the European Convention of Human Rights fully respected. Turkey remains an important partner for the EU. In light of its EU accession talks we urge Turkey to respect the principles the country has committed to."
