Motion for a resolution | Doc. 14163 | 10 October 2016

The situation in Turkey

Signatories: Mr Michael Aastrup JENSEN, Denmark, ALDE ; Ms Theodora BAKOYANNIS, Greece, EPP/CD ; Mr Samvel FARMANYAN, Armenia, EPP/CD ; Ms Doris FIALA, Switzerland, ALDE ; Ms Ute FINCKH-KRÄMER, Germany, SOC ; Mr Bernard FOURNIER, France, EPP/CD ; Mr Karl GARÐARSSON, Iceland, ALDE ; Ms Annette GROTH, Germany, UEL ; Mr Martin HENRIKSEN, Denmark, EC ; Mr Andrej HUNKO, Germany, UEL ; Mr Jan E. JØRGENSEN, Denmark, ALDE ; Ms Naira KARAPETYAN, Armenia, EPP/CD ; Mr Christian LANGBALLE, Denmark, EC ; Mr Luís LEITE RAMOS, Portugal, EPP/CD ; Mr Mikayel MELKUMYAN, Armenia, EC ; Ms Hermine NAGHDALYAN, Armenia, EC ; Mr Harald PETZOLD, Germany, UEL ; Mr François ROCHEBLOINE, France, EPP/CD ; Mr Armen RUSTAMYAN, Armenia, SOC ; Ms Ulla SANDBÆK, Denmark, UEL ; Mr Mher SHAHGELDYAN, Armenia, EPP/CD ; Mr Adão SILVA, Portugal, EPP/CD ; Mr Manuel TORNARE, Switzerland, SOC ; Mr Nikolaj VILLUMSEN, Denmark, UEL ; Ms Naira ZOHRABYAN, Armenia, EC ; Mr Levon ZOURABIAN, Armenia, ALDE

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

The developments in Turkey are extremely worrying and call for a rapid and clear response from the Council of Europe.

In the aftermath of the attempt of a military coup d’Etat during the night between the 15th and 16th of July 2016, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has introduced a policy containing several elements which are in deep contradiction with Turkey’s obligations as member State of the Council of Europe.

The reaction from the side of the Turkish government is far beyond what can be tolerated within the framework of membership of the Council of Europe.

Turkey must immediately re-establish rule of law and the respect for basic human rights. This includes a prompt and clear message from the Turkish government that it will not re-introduce the death penalty. Furthermore, the detention of thousands of people claimed to be involved in the attempted coup d’Etat is in no ways acceptable and far below every democratic standard.

Finally, freedom of the media is under severe pressure in Turkey and the situation has only worsened since the events in July.

The Parliamentary Assembly should therefore carefully consider the human rights situation in Turkey and open the monitoring procedure with respect to Turkey immediately.