WASHINGTON, 5 November 2016 \u2013 In response to the arrests of the two leaders of Turkey\u2019s Peoples\u2019 Democratic Party (HDP) along with at least ten other members of parliament, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Christine Muttonen (MP, Austria) today expressed concern over these developments and called on Ankara to ensure that the parliamentarians enjoy their full legal rights.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe latest developments in Turkey, including the arrests of elected members of parliament on questionable grounds, are deeply disturbing,\u201d Muttonen said. \u201cWhile it is clear that Turkey is dealing with political and security difficulties, the threat of terrorism should not be used as a pretext to persecute members of the political opposition \u2013 in this case, Turkey\u2019s third largest political party. I call on Ankara to end these practices and return to ordinary procedures and democratic safeguards without delay.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Speaking from Washington, DC, where she is leading observers monitoring the general elections in the United States, President Muttonen stressed that parliamentarians must be allowed to fulfill their duties representing the people who elected them. She further expressed concern over the conditions and legal rights of those detained.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI am troubled by the lack of human rights safeguards under the state of emergency,\u201d she said. \u201cThe government should reinstate these crucial safeguards immediately and the parliamentarians still being held by the authorities should be able to exercise their full legal rights.\u201d<\/p>\n
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