Duygu Ciniviz 

 

DİYARBAKIR – Human Rights Watch Rapporteur Emma Sinclair-Webb said that they had prepared a report on rights violations in Turkey and they had submitted this report to the United Nations, the European Union and the Council of Europe, “Europe knows very well what is going on in Turkey but it has lapsed into silence due to the refugee deal with Turkey.” 

 

Human Rights Watch Rapporteur Emma Sinclair-Webb came to Diyarbakır province on the occasion of Human Rights Week, December 10-17. She commented on increasing pressure environment in Turkey. Emphasizing the jailed MPs, usurpation towards municipalities of Kurdistan, pressure on journalists, detention and arrests, Emma said, “The trustees appointed to the municipalities, the attacks on local administration are contrary to democratic principles.” 

 

‘Political wills are being usurped’ 

 

Emma said they had been working on reports about jailed MPs and increasing fundamental rights violations and she added, “We have listed the jailed mayors, politicians and journalists’ usurped rights but unfortunately many rights violations have taken place in Turkey in recent years. Those who represent millions of people politically are behind bars it means that political will of the people of the region has been usurped. The politicians, who are supposed to be in parliament to continue their political works, are now being held captive in prisons.” 

 

‘It is contrary to democratic principles’ 

 

Stating that the attacks on elected people have extended over the municipalities and that this situation is contrary to democratic principles as well as it is the fundamental rights violation, Emma said, “The trustees appointed to municipalities held by the DBP is an attack on local administrations. It is also a right violation.” 

 

‘Europe lapses into silence’ 

 

Expressing that they had prepared a report on rights violations in Turkey and they had submitted this report to the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU) and the Council of Europe (CoU), Emma continued to talk as follows: “Europe knows very well what is going on in Turkey but it has lapsed into silence due to the refugee deal with Turkey. Because the most ‘important’ thing for the countries of Europe is that the refugees don’t go to their countries. Apart from that, the presidential system, fundamental rights violations, the situation of jailed politicians have been put away.”