Politics 17:59 13/04/2021 Region

OSCE PA human rights leaders troubled by moves to dissolve People’s Democratic Party in Turkey

Concerned by moves to legally dissolve the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) in Turkey, leaders of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s human rights and democracy committee said today that banning one of the country’s largest political parties would be a mistake and could further undermine democratic principles in Turkey. The recent arrest of HDP parliamentarian Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu, following the stripping of his parliamentary immunity, is only the latest in long string of elected officials whose mandates have been removed, the OSCE PA members said.

The committee leaders acknowledged that Turkey has in the past and continues today to face grave security concerns including terrorism and noted Turkey’s ongoing efforts in the international response to the refugee crisis, hosting more than 3.6 million Syrians displaced by the Syrian civil war. They stressed however that its response to challenges requires consolidation of democratic norms and full respect for human rights.

“The combination of the effort to ban the People’s Democratic Party and the repeated imprisonment of politicians is having the effect of denying millions of Turkish citizens their chosen representation,” said Kyriakos Hadjiyianni (Cyprus), Chair of the OSCE PA’s Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions. “Turkey should adhere to its international commitments, which require that duly elected officials must be provided with the protection to do their jobs to the end of their mandates. Some removals have taken place on flimsy evidence, and in the case of Mr. Gergerlioğlu for tweeting a news article.”

The Vice-Chair of the committee, Michael Georg Link (Germany), noted that the recent arrests and the moves to ban the HDP come against a backdrop of other concerning developments for human rights and rule of law in Turkey. “From Ankara’s recent decision to annul its ratification of the legally binding Istanbul Convention on violence against women to its ongoing imprisonment of journalists, and now these moves to suppress the HDP, the human rights situation in Turkey is increasingly becoming a matter of international concern. We are closely watching the legal proceedings against politicians such as Mr. Gergerlioğlu, as well as several journalists who are appearing in court during the next few weeks.”

Kari Henriksen (Norway), who serves as OSCE PA Vice-President and Rapporteur of the human rights committee said: “Turkey has a history of a vibrant multi-party system but the recent actions by the government undermine this pluralistic tradition. Parliamentary democracy is predicated on the respect for different policy approaches, opinions and views, and this cannot be a reason for removal from parliament. Closure of a political party is a drastic step and must only be taken with great caution and with respect for the highest principles of due process and freedom of expression.”



Source Panorama.am
Share |
Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:

Newsfeed

17:05
Prosecutor's Office asked to charge Pashinyan for land handover to Azerbaijan
The Prosecutor General’s Office has been asked to bring criminal charges against Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for the handover...
16:45
EU monitors in Armenia host Finland's ambassador to South Caucasus
The EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA) on Thursday hosted Finland's Ambassador to South Caucasus Kirsti Narinen and Honorary Consul Timothy...
16:35
Seven arrested after jeering at Pashinyan's wife
Seven people have been detained following an incident involving Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s spouse, Anna Hakobyan....
16:14
ZCMC slips to third in list of Armenia's top taxpayers
The State Revenue Committee (SRC) on Thursday published data on taxes and fees paid by Armenia's 1,000 largest taxpayers in January-March...
15:36
Russia expects Pashinyan to attend EAEU summit in May
Russia expects Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to participate in the EAEU summit in Moscow in May, Russian Deputy Prime Minister...
15:07
Protesters rally outside Turkish Consulate in Beverly Hills on Armenian Genocide anniversary
On Wednesday, April 24, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Turkish Consulate on Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills to remember the...
14:35
Anti-Pashinyan protests held in Yerevan
Spontaneous protests against the decision of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government to hand over four border...
14:14
Politician: Incident involving Pashinyan's wife confirms 'explosive' situation in Armenia
The latest incident involving Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's wife, Anna Hakobyan, indicates that the situation in Armenia is...
13:34
Opposition MP: Handover of 'enclaves' to Azerbaijan will paralyze Armenia
Armenian opposition MP Tigran Abrahamyan warns that the surrender of four “enclaves” to Azerbaijan will completely paralyze Armenia....
12:50
Rep. Schiff commemorates Armenian Genocide anniversary
U.S. Representative Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Vice Chair of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, released the following statement to...
12:35
Protesters block Yerevan-Gyumri highway
People in Armenia's Shirak Province on Thursday blocked the Yerevan-Gyumri highway in protest against the Armenian government’s...
12:05
School students go on strike in Armenia's Tavush
School students in Baghanis, a border village in Armenia’s Tavush Province, walked out of classes on Thursday to protest against the...
11:35
Azerbaijan removes coat of arms from Artsakh government building
A video circulating on social media shows Azerbaijani occupants removing Artsakh’s coat of arms and Armenian inscriptions from the Artsakh...
11:15
USAID chief pays tribute to Armenian Genocide victims
USAID Administrator Samantha Power commemorated the Armenian Genocide victims on the 109th anniversary of the tragedy marked on Wednesday....
11:00
42 Armenians missing after Azeri attack on Nagorno-Karabakh, report says
A total of 42 Armenians, including 12 civilians, went missing following Azerbaijan’s military takeover...
17:05
Political analyst: Pashinyan has long lost his status as Armenian PM
Nikol Pashinyan has long ceased to be Armenia’s prime minister, becoming Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's “ambassador”...
16:34
Catholicos Karekin II commemorates Armenian Genocide victims
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, accompanied by the members of the Brotherhood of the Mother See of...
15:49
Support for Armenian prisoners held illegally in Baku prison: March to Tsitsernakaberd
This year, on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, banners could be seen at the top of Tsitsernakaberd, reading, "Free Armenian...
15:19
Biden pays tribute to Armenian Genocide victims
U.S. President Joe Biden commemorated the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in a statement on Wednesday. The full...
15:05
Greek president marks Armenian Genocide anniversary
Acknowledgement and vigilance is required for the victims of the Armenian Genocide, Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou said in a statement...
14:36
'Nikol, murderer'. Pashinyan's wife booed at Tsitsernakaberd
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's spouse, Anna Hakobyan, was booed while visiting the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex in Yerevan to...
14:15
U.S. State Department report reveals torture, arbitrary detentions in Armenia
The U.S. Department of State has released its annual 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, saying significant human rights issues in...
13:35
Genocide threat still present in the world – Foreign Ministry
The Armenian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide marked on April 24. The full statement is...
13:25
Armenia’s decision on CSTO membership its sovereign choice, chief says
The choice of Armenia’s authorities to remain in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) or leave it will be the...
13:11
'A complete lack of transparency': Ruben Vardanyan's son talks about his detention in Baku
CNN's Christiane Amanpour speaks with David Vardanyan, son of Ruben Vardanyan, the former leader of the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh)...
12:46
Macron commemorates Armenian Genocide anniversary
French President Emmanuel Macron has marked the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire. “Today, France...
12:27
LIVE: March to Tsitsernakabert Memorial on Armenian Genocide anniversary
People have been marching to the Tsitsernakabert Memorial Complex in Yerevan since early Wednesday morning to commemorate the 109th anniversary...
12:00
Serzh Sargsyan: Armenian leaders trying to send Armenian Genocide into oblivion
Third Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan issued a message on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide commemorated on April 24. His full...
11:45
What will Pashinyan do next, demolish the Genocide Museum?
By Harut Sassounian TheCaliforniaCourier.com Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his equally incompetent underlings have been making for...
11:33
Freedom House concerned by reports of police violence in Armenia
Freedom House has expressed concern over mounting reports of police violence in Armenia. “We urge Armenian authorities to investigate...

Follow us and get updates!

Most popular articles

{"core.blocks.header.spell_message1":"Selected mistake: ","core.blocks.header.spell_message2":"Send a message about the mistake?"}