<font color='#55563B' size='2'>The Congress calls for the release of Leyla Güven</font>
The Congress calls for the release of Leyla Güven
[27/03/2014]
The Congress, meeting in Session on 26 March in Strasbourg (France), examined a report on the situation of Leyla Güven and other local elected representatives in detention in Turkey. The Congress rapporteurs, Anders Knape, (Sweden, EPP/CCE) and Leen Verbeek, (Netherlands, SOC) pointed out that 15 mayors, 23 deputy mayors and dozens of municipal councillors had been in remand detention for years – an unprecedented situation in the Council of Europe member states, while Turkey was preparing to hold new local elections on 30 March.
“Such detentions constitute a serious obstacle to the democratic process in Turkey and also raise serious questions about the rule of law and the protection of human rights in this country”, said Mr Knape.
The rapporteurs also noted that as a result of a recent ruling of the Turkish Constitutional Court, all the members of the Turkish Grand National Assembly who had been detained in similar circumstances and for the same reasons as Leyla Güven had now been freed.
“We invite the Turkish authorities to apply the same standards and principles to local elected politicians as it does to its members of parliament, and therefore to release Leyla Güven and all the Turkish local elected representatives who find themselves in a similar situation” said Leen Verbeek.
Le Congrès demande la libération de Leyla Güven
[27/03/2014]
Le Congrès, réuni en session le 26 mars à Strasbourg (France), a examiné un rapport sur la situation de Leyla Güven et d’autres élus locaux en détention en Turquie. Les rapporteurs du Congrès Anders Knape, (Suède, PPE/CCE) et Leen Verbeek, (Pays-Bas, SOC) ont rappelé que 15 maires, 23 maires adjoints et des dizaines de conseillers municipaux étaient maintenus en détention provisoire depuis des années- une situation sans précédent dans les États membres du Conseil de l’Europe et ce, alors même que la Turquie se prépare à de nouvelles élections locales le 30 mars prochain.
« Ces détentions entravent sérieusement le processus démocratique en Turquie et soulèvent de graves questions en relation avec l’Etat de droit et la protection des droits de l’homme dans ce pays » a déclaré Mr Knape.
Les rapporteurs ont par ailleurs noté que, suite à un arrêt récent de la Cour constitutionnelle de Turquie tous les membres de la Grande Assemblée nationale de Turquie qui étaient en détention détenus dans des circonstances similaires et pour les mêmes motifs que Leyla Güven, ont été libérés.
« Nous invitons les autorités turques à appliquer aux élus locaux les mêmes normes et principes qu’aux parlementaires, et par conséquent de libérer Leyla Güven et tous les élus locaux turcs qui se trouvent dans une situation similaire » a declaré Leen Verbeek.
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The Congress, meeting in Session on 26 March in Strasbourg (France), examined a report on the situation of Leyla Güven and other local elected representatives in detention in Turkey. The Congress rapporteurs, Anders Knape, (Sweden, EPP/CCE) and Leen Verbeek, (Netherlands, SOC) pointed out that 15 mayors, 23 deputy mayors and dozens of municipal councillors had been in remand detention for years – an unprecedented situation in the Council of Europe member states, while Turkey was preparing to hold new local elections on 30 March.
“Such detentions constitute a serious obstacle to the democratic process in Turkey and also raise serious questions about the rule of law and the protection of human rights in this country”, said Mr Knape.
The rapporteurs also noted that as a result of a recent ruling of the Turkish Constitutional Court, all the members of the Turkish Grand National Assembly who had been detained in similar circumstances and for the same reasons as Leyla Güven had now been freed.
“We invite the Turkish authorities to apply the same standards and principles to local elected politicians as it does to its members of parliament, and therefore to release Leyla Güven and all the Turkish local elected representatives who find themselves in a similar situation” said Leen Verbeek.