The European United Left condemns the arrests in Turkey
Statement by AKEL MEP and GUE/NGL Vice-President Neoklis Sylikiotis
Office of AKEL MEP Neoklis Sylikiotis, 4th November 2016
Today the President of the European United Left- Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) Gabi Zimer condemned the arrests of the two Co-Presidents and Members of Parliament of the pro-Kurdish HDP party by the Turkish authorities. In a statement issued she called on the President of the European Commission, the President of the European Parliament, as well as the leaders of the Member States, to support in practice the immediate release of the HDP party MP’s. Furthermore, the GUE/NGL President denounced the fact that Erdogan is seeking to silence the opposition and the mass media in order to stifle any democratic debate and gain complete control.
The GUE/NGL President, together with AKEL MEP and Vice-President of the Confederal Group of GUE/NGL Neoklis Sylikiotis, also raised today the tragic events regarding the arrest of the leadership of the HDP party before the European Commission. More specifically, they both denounced the flagrant violations of human rights, as well as the curbing of civil liberties in Turkey, which as they stressed, are targeting even democratically elected Members of Parliament. They subsequently demanded an immediate reaction from the EU.
In a question which Neoklis Sylikiotis and Gabi Zimer tabled, they underline that regretfully the Turkish government is continuously sliding to authoritarianism with the never-ending violations of human rights, with the intentional genocide of the Kurds, the silencing of the press and journalists, as well as through the attacks it is waging against any minority. They make particular reference to the attacks and violence being committed against the pro-Kurdish HDP party, which is the third largest party in the Turkish parliament, and whose parliamentary immunity has been lifted.
AKEL MEP and Vice-President of the Confederal Group of GUE/NGL Neoklis Sylikiotis and GUE/NGL President Gabi Zimer ask the European Commission whether it intends to immediately denounce the Turkish government’s actions, which, as they point out, violate Democracy itself. In addition, they call on the European Commission to give a reply as to what actions the EU itself will take to exert pressure on Turkey to implement its contractual obligations as a candidate country, and to respect the human rights and freedoms of all citizens.
