Newsletter 09/2020

Statement on the ECtHR President’s honorary doctorate
We published a statement on the honorary doctorate the ECtHR President Robert Spano received from İstanbul University during his visit to Turkey: The EUTCC strongly dissociates itself from the fact that the President of the European Court of Human Rights receives an honorary doctorate from a member state that largely violates human rights. The EUTCC takes this occasion to remind all those who champion the cause of human rights about its perilous condition today in Turkey. 
http://eutcc.net/?p=402

Resolution of the European Parliament on Turkey in the context of the Eastern Mediterranean conflict 

Resolution of the European Parliament on the preparation of the special European Council Summit on the dangerous escalation and the role of Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean: The EP condemns Turkey’s illegal activities in the continental shelf/EEZ of Greece and Cyprus, which violate the sovereign rights of EU Member States and expresses its full solidarity with Greece and Cyprus; urges Turkey to engage in the peaceful settlement of disputes and to refrain from any unilateral and illegal action or threat, as that could have a negative impact on good neighbourly relations. The EP xpresses serious concerns about the current state of EU-Turkey relations, mainly regarding the dire human rights situation in Turkey and the erosion of democracy and the rule of law; underlines the past and present negative impacts of Turkey’s unilateral foreign policy initiatives in the wider region. 

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2020-0230_EN.html

Report of UN Syria Commission on Syria
The UN Syria Commission released a report on Syria. The report lists war crimes committed in the areas under Turkish occupation (in both the Afrin and Ra’s al-Ayn regions): pillage, hostage-taking, unlawful deportation, cruel treatment, torture and rape. 
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=26237&LangID=E

Call of Chief of UN Human Rights to Turkey

Michelle Bachelet, Chief of UN Human Rights, calls on Turkey to respect international law and halt violations committed by armed groups under Turkey’s control, including killings, kidnapping, forcible evictions, seizures of land and unlawful transfers. https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26258&LangID=E

Statement on Turkish Intelligence Organisation’s plans to attack Austrian politicians 
We published a statement on Turkish Intelligence Organisation’s plans to attack Austrian politicians. It was revealed that an agent of the Turkish Intelligence Organisation (MIT) had turned himself in to the Austrian intelligence service where he reported on plans to attack Austrian politicians criticising the policies of the Turkish government. Among those affected are former members of Austrian Parliament Berivan Aslan and Peter Pilz as well as S&D MEP Andreas Schieder. The EUTCC express solidarity with all affected. 
http://eutcc.net/?p=405

HDP statement on wave of arrest
Statement by Peoples’ Democratic Party HDP on wave of arrest against the HDP on 25 September. As part of an investigation carried out by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s office, detention warrants have been issued against 82 people, mostly HDP politicians/officials. 
https://hdpeurope.eu/2020/09/82-more-arrests-the-onslaught-on-the-hdp-continues-unabashedly/

EU Turkey Civic Commission 
www.eutcc.net
Twitter: @EUTCC1
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