MEPs call on Council of Europe to pressure Turkey to release Selahattin Demirtaş

Members of the European Parliament, including former Turkey rapporteur of the European Parliament Kati Piri and the current Turkey rapporteur Nacho Sanchez Amor, have penned an open letter to the Council of Europe, urging it to pressure Turkey to release renowned Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtaş.

Tuesday February 02 2021 12:10 am

Duvar English

Leading members of the main political groups in the European Parliament have penned an open letter to the Council of Europe, urging it to pressure Turkey to secure the release of renowned Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtaş.

The letter signed by six MEPs, including former Turkey rapporteur of the European Parliament Kati Piri and the current Turkey rapporteur Nacho Sanchez Amor, said that Demirtaş's situation should be discussed at the upcoming meeting of the Committee of Ministers – the Council of Europe's decision-making body.

The Committee of Ministers oversees enforcement of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) judgments.

“We urge you to use any means at your disposal to ensure Turkey's full compliance with the Grand Chamber's judgment and secure Mr. Demirtaş' immediate release. Not only is his present situation a tragic miscarriage of justice on the part of the Turkish authorities that has come at the expense of Mr. Demirtaş and his family; it has also become a symbol for Turkey's backsliding on human rights, democracy and the rule of law,” the letter read.

With colleagues representing all big parties in @Europarl_EN, calling on EU governments to use all means to ensure Turkey’s compliance w/ ruling #ECtHR to immediately release Selahattin Demirtas. pic.twitter.com/bJBRjaAuWl
— Kati Piri (@KatiPiri) February 1, 2021

The ECHR in December 2020 ruled that Turkey must immediately release Demirtaş, saying the justification for his four years in prison was a cover for limiting pluralism and debate.

The Grand Chamber of the ECHR said Demirtaş - who is charged with terrorism-related offenses - had had his rights violated under five different categories, including freedom of expression and liberty.

The ECHR in December 2020 ruled that Turkey must immediately release Demirtaş, saying the justification for his four years in prison was a cover for limiting pluralism and debate.

According to the ECHR's Grand Chamber, Demirtaş's pre-trial detention since Nov. 4, 2016 had sent "a dangerous message to the entire population" that sharply narrowed free democratic debate.