Rights abuses to persist in Turkey as long as emergency rule continues: Amnesty
Amnesty International has warned that human rights violations and a clampdown on freedom of speech are likely to persist in Turkey as long as the Anatolian country remains under a state of emergency following a failed coup some two years ago.
“The dysfunction of civil society and the state of emergency formed a proper ground for human rights violations,” said Andrew Gardner, a senior Amnesty researcher on Turkey, during a press conference in Istanbul on Thursday.
“Unfortunately, it seems likely the human rights violations will continue as long as the state of emergency continues,” he said at the presser, claiming that the emergency rule was enforced to target journalists, as well as government critics.
Gardner’s comments echoed the scathing account of the human rights situation in Turkey, which was included in Amnesty’s annual report on global human rights.
“Dissent was ruthlessly suppressed, with journalists, political activists and human rights defenders among those targeted,” said the Amnesty report on Thursday.
Turkey has remained in a state of emergency since mid-July 2016, when a short-lived putsch was carried out by part of the military against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, prompting Ankara to engage in suppressing the media and opposition groups suspected to have played a role in the botched coup.
The Turkish government alleges that Turkish opposition cleric Fethullah Gulen masterminded and orchestrated the coup, labeling his movement as a terror organization.
However, the US-based cleric has strongly rejected any involvement in the coup attempt.
Ankara has so far submitted a total of seven requests to US officials, demanding the extradition of the Pennsylvania-based figure, but all to no avail.
Turkish authorities have so far detained more than 50,000 people, including security officials, military personnel and civil servants, over alleged links to Gulen’s organization and the failed coup. More than 150,000 others, including military staff, civil servants and journalists, have also been sacked or suspended from work over the same accusations.
The Turkish Journalists’ Association says about 160 journalists are in prison, most of them held since the failed coup.
Rights groups and European governments have repeatedly criticized Ankara for the continued crackdown, saying the government is using the coup as a pretext to muzzle dissent.
Iraq won’t tolerate violation of its sovereignty, PM tells Erdogan
New Freedom Flotilla to set sail for Gaza in defiance of Israel's naval blockade
Hamas chief meets Erdogan as Turkey tries to mediate in Gaza war
April 25: ‘Axis of Resistance’ operations against Israeli occupation
Hezbollah hits Israeli military sites near border with rockets, drones
Rwandans say UK deportation 'another brutal manifestation of neo-colonialism'
US troops begin construction of controversial pier off Gaza
Israel ‘spoofs’ GPS signals, endangering flight safety amid Gaza war: Report
Iran urges Security Council to address 'belligerent' Israeli atrocities
VIDEO | Leader meets workers on Labor Week
French police called in to break up US-style pro-Palestinian student demo
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
