Turkey: Parliament to denounce continuous repression of opposition
MEPs will discuss the Turkish government’s crackdown on the opposition, specifically the main pro-Kurdish party, on Tuesday and vote on a resolution on Thursday.
In a debate with High Representative Josep Borrell, MEPs are set to condemn the long-standing crackdown on the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP). This is the Turkish parliament’s third-largest party, with thousands of its members tried mainly on terrorism charges.
For years, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has accused the HDP of being a political front for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Turkey has a long history of shutting down political parties seen as a threat, and has in the past banned a series of other pro-Kurdish parties.
Statement by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (with resolution)
Debate: Tuesday, 6 July
Vote: Thursday, 8 July