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Turkey's Erdogan Promises Human Rights Reforms

Dorian Jones

   ISTANBUL - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is pledging sweeping
   human rights reforms, a move that analysts say anticipates increased
   scrutiny by a new U.S. administration. It also comes as opinion polls
   indicate plummeting support for Erdogan's party.

   Under Erdogan's rule human rights groups and Turkey's western partners
   have condemned what they claim is the rapid deterioration in human
   rights. Tens of thousands of people have been jailed, including
   prominent politicians and civic society members in an ongoing crackdown
   on dissent.

   Speaking after Tuesday's cabinet meeting with ministers, Erdogan said,
   "In the coming days, the draft of the Human Rights Action Plan will be
   finalized by working with all of the country's economic stakeholders."

   Rights groups are calling for action rather than words.

   "The messages are fine but we want to see it born out with real
   evidence of a change and so far that has not been forthcoming," said
   Emma Sinclair Webb, Turkey researcher of Human Rights Watch.

   Thursday, Human Rights Watch and ARTICLE 19, a London-based rights
   group, issued a [1]joint statement calling for [2]the release of
   Selahattin Demirtas, the former leader of Turkey's second largest
   opposition party, the pro Kurdish HDP.

   Demirtas has been in jail for four years, after being convicted on
   terrorism charges. In 2018 the European Court of Human Rights
   overturned his conviction ruling it was "politically motivated."

   "The subsequent refusal of the court to release him, despite the ruling
   of the European Court of Human Rights, is a shocking reminder of the
   power of the executive in Turkey to influence court proceedings," said
   Sarah Clarke, head of Europe and Central Asia at ARTICLE 19.

   The Turkish government defends Demirtas' incarceration, saying the
   Kurdish leader faces other charges in relation to a political speech he
   made that authorities labeled as terrorist propaganda.

References

   1. https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/11/19/turkey-opposition-politicians-detained-four-years
   2. https://www.article19.org/resources/turkey-opposition-politicians-detained-for-4-years/

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