Situation of Can Atalay, imprisoned MP in Türkiye
17.10.2024
Question for written answer E-002154/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Leila Chaibi (The Left), Özlem Demirel (The Left), Manon Aubry (The Left), Marc Botenga (The Left), Lynn Boylan (The Left), Damien Carême (The Left), Per Clausen (The Left), Sebastian Everding (The Left), Emma Fourreau (The Left), Kathleen Funchion (The Left), Hanna Gedin (The Left), Rima Hassan (The Left), Arash Saeidi (The Left), Ilaria Salis (The Left), Jussi Saramo (The Left), Martin Schirdewan (The Left), Isabel Serra Sánchez (The Left), Jonas Sjöstedt (The Left), Anthony Smith (The Left)
Can Atalay, a human rights lawyer, was elected as a member of parliament in the Turkish general elections of May 2023, while he was imprisoned in relation to the political trial stemming from the Gezi Park protests in 2013.
Despite his election, he remains in detention and has been unable to take the oath of office, preventing him from enjoying parliamentary immunity. Although the Turkish Constitutional Court recognised that his rights had been violated, Can Atalay’s mandate was annulled on 31 January 2024, a decision that has also been revoked by the Constitutional Court.
In spite of these rulings in his favour, Can Atalay continues to be imprisoned, which constitutes a violation of his parliamentary rights.
In light of the above:
- 1.Since its Türkiye Report 2023, in which Can Atalay’s case is mentioned (Section 2.1) as an example of rights violations, has the Commission been monitoring the developments in this case?
- 2.Has the Commission assessed the conditions of Can Atalay's detention and consulted the relevant parties?
- 3.Does the Commission intend to intensify its dialogue with the Turkish authorities to ensure that Can Atalay’s parliamentary rights are respected?
Submitted: 17.10.2024