16.04.2013Posted in: Foreign Affairs, human rights, Policy Map, Timeline, Top Stories, Turkey

Dutch Member of European Parliament Marietje Schaake (D66/ALDE) is concerned about the sentencing of the well known Turkish pianist Fazil Say. A Turkish court sentenced Say to a suspended 10 months in jail for posting tweets in which he criticised religion and declared himself an atheist. Schaake is a long time critic of the on going erosion of the rule of law in Turkey that tramples fundamental rights. “This is only the last example in a series of sentences following criticism on religion or politics, while the statements are legal according to universal human rights and European law. The growing number of convictions leads to fear among journalists and artists and spurs self-censorship. This is a major problem and hampers the democratic reforms that Turkey so badly needs”, Schaake says.

Statement
The European Commission released a statement today saying Turkey has to respect freedom of expression, as enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights, to which Turkey is a party. Schaake: “The deterioration of freedom of expression is a growing problem. As the government is becoming more authoritarian, and the Turkish judiciary threatens to lose its independence. The EU should draw its consequences if the Turkish government does not show though actions it is committed to substantial democratic and judicial reforms.”

Accession process
Schaake wants the EU to put freedom of expression at the heart of Turkey’s accession process. “The fact that Turkey is an important ally for the EU in facing shared challenges in the Middle East should not overshadow Turkey’s domestic human rights problems. When EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton recently visited Turkey she did not address these very real problems during the official press conference while these issues should be directly addressed with the Turkish government”, Schaake adds.

Progress report
This week the European Parliament will vote on its annual report assessing Turkey’s progress towards EU accession. Through several amendments Schaake pleads for respect for freedoms such as freedom of expression and digital freedoms as well as the rule of law in Turkey.

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For more information:

Marietje Schaake 0031 6 3037 7921

or her press officer Anna Sophia Posthumus 0032 484 201 518