‘EU should not tolerate Turkey’s unacceptable actions against the law’

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69 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from the Greens/EFA, S&D and GUE/NGL groups have addressed an open letter to Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission.

The letter has referred to a series of issues, including Turkey's military operations in northern Iraq and Syria as well as the appointment of trustees to Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) municipalities and dismissal of its MPs.

The letter of the MEPs briefly reads as follows:

'Democratic political opposition repressed'

"We are writing to draw your attention to the repression of democratic political opposition in Turkey, especially the detention of MPs and mayors from the HDP; the Turkish invasion bombardments in Northern Iraq and Northern Syria in particular the regions inhabited by Kurds.

"Over the last five years, President Erdoğan's ruling AKP has built an extremely authoritarian political system with the help of its ultranationalist allies and under conditions of emergency rule. In this process, over 90,000 people have been arrested with 'terrorism'-related charges, including party leaders, members of parliament, elected Kurdish mayors, thousands of other HDP party members, journalists, academics, lawyers, civil society representatives, human rights activists, and many more.

"The government has typically labelled anybody critical of its policies, particularly its Kurdish policy, as a terrorist or a traitor, and an enemy of the state. The 'Turkish-type presidential system' has totally undermined the principle of separation of powers and an independent judiciary.

'HDP's 46 of 65 municipalities seized'

"The Turkish Government's unlawful attacks are not simply directed against parliamentary democracy. They have also been unlawfully removing Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Co-mayors in Kurdish provinces, and replacing them with appointed 'governor-trustees.'

"Since the local elections on March 31, 2019, the government has unlawfully seized 46 HDP municipalities out of 65. The European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) released its opinion no.979/2019 on June 18 and mentioned that it is incompatible with basic principles of democracy, the rule of law and foreseeability of the law.

'Continued airstrikes are concerning'

"We would also like to express our serious concerns about the continued shocking air strikes of the Turkish army in the regions of Sinjar and the UNHCR Makhmour Camp as well as other parts in South Kurdistan (Kurdistan Region of Iraq), which commenced on 14 June, and drone attack in Koban (Kurdish Region of Syria) on 23 of June 2020. In both attacks, many civilians lost their lives or seriously injured.

"This Turkish military action is destabilizing the region, exacerbating humanitarian suffering, and providing a fertile ground for the resurgence of terrorist groups, which will especially undermine progress made against ISIS.

"Furthermore, the continued air strikes could lead to the displacement of more people and force them to be asylum seekers in different parts of neighbouring countries or Europe.

'Take action against Erdoğan's regime'

"Turkey is a member of NATO, a member of the Council of Europe, and a candidate country in the process of accession to the EU.

"The Commission should not tolerate these unacceptable actions against all democratic norms of national and international law. We ask you to take action against Erdogan's autocratic regime.

"The EU faces also belligerent behaviour from Turkey in the Mediterranean Sea, going as far as the risk of confrontation with European ships belonging to the French Navy. We cannot remain passive in the face of so much aggressiveness, including towards the EU Itself.

"We would like to request that the Commission take immediate and concrete steps, as economic and targeted sanctions, to help end this unlawful repression and attacks, as well as attacks against international law."

The undersigned MEPs

(EMK/SD)