Activists have called for the European Union to use a meeting with the Turkish foreign minister to urge the release of human rights workers detained as part of Turkey’s crackdown following last year’s failed coup.
The issue was raised during a noisy protest in Brussels ahead of the talks, amid growing concern that Turkey is sliding away from EU values as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan tightens his grip on power and cracks down on perceived opponents.
Amnesty International secretary general Salil Shetty said: “Our call is very simple. We want the unconditional and immediate release of these human rights defenders.”
Today our Secretary General @SalilShetty met with @FedericaMog to demand she helps #FreeRightsDefenders like our staff locked up in Turkey! pic.twitter.com/FxwGWBMuxJ
— Amnesty International (@amnesty) July 25, 2017
Amnesty’s Turkey director and chair, Idil Eser and Taner Kilic, are among those being detained.
Mr Shetty added after handing a petition to EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini: “Turkey has to get a clear message that the EU would like to reset its relationship with Turkey and that there will be consequences for the actions they take, because right now they feel no consequences.”“We have fundamental criticism about the lack of rule of law and that is something that doesn’t just depend on one specific member state.
“It’s a fundamental issue that must be raised and will be raised by us.”
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