An open letter addressed to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, António Costa, has been issued by 58 organizations. The letter expresses deep concern over actions taken by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government that allegedly undermine political participation rights, rule of law, and human rights in Türkiye.
The signatories assert that recent actions by Erdoğan’s government have significantly weakened political opposition in Türkiye. “We wish to stress that the attack by President Erdoğan’s government on Türkiye’s main political opposition seriously undercuts the right to political participation which is an essential component of the country’s rule of law and human rights framework,” they state.
A key incident highlighted is the removal of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu following the cancellation of his university diploma. This was followed by his arrest along with other municipal officials. The letter claims this action was politically motivated as İmamoğlu had been selected as a candidate against Erdoğan in upcoming elections.
The letter also criticizes Turkey’s use of detention against politicians and activists, citing cases such as Selahattin Demirtaş and Osman Kavala. It mentions that despite rulings from the European Court of Human Rights demanding their release, Turkish authorities have not complied.
Reflecting public discontent, İmamoğlu’s detention has led to large protests across Türkiye. The letter reports police using force against protesters and notes instances where journalists were detained or convicted for covering these events.
Furthermore, it describes pressures on media outlets and social media platforms to limit information dissemination about these developments. There are also concerns about legal professionals facing challenges while defending those arrested during protests.
The organizations argue that the EU’s response has been inadequate given the severity of these issues. They urge EU leaders to take a stronger stance on human rights violations in Türkiye and emphasize that human rights should be integral to EU-Türkiye relations.
In closing, they call for various measures including public statements denouncing Turkey’s actions, insisting on compliance with ECtHR judgments, investigating allegations of police misconduct during protests, and supporting civil society in Türkiye.
The signatories include Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch (HRW), International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Reporters sans frontières (RSF), among others.
