Main opposition MP prepares report on rights violations during Turkey’s emergency rule

ANKARA

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Istanbul deputy Sezgin Tanrıkulu has prepared a report on “human rights and constitutional violations” under the state of emergency declared after the failed July 15, 2016 coup attempt. 

Tanrıkulu examined practices starting from July 20, 2016, the date when emergency rule was declared, concluding that “basic human rights guaranteed under the constitution and international law are being systematically violated.” 

He stressed that “limited precautions” necessitated by emergency rule should not be extended in perpetuity.

“The urgent measures that had to be adopted on the night of July 15 and in the following days should not be made permanent. Human rights violations that have emerged from this permanence should be gotten rid of immediately and the opportunity to thoroughly investigate those causing violations must be provided,” the report stated. 

“Democracy has been shelved, the state of law has been ignored, and constitutional rights and freedoms have been violated using the state of emergency,” the report stated. 

Tanrıkulu particularly referred to 12 fundamental human rights that have been systematically violated during Turkey’s ongoing state of emergency.

“The freedom to claim rights, the right to defense, the presumption of innocence, and the right to a fair trial have been violated. Freedom of expression, freedom of thought, freedom of assembly, the right to private life, the right to work, the right to protest, the right to own property, and the right to travel have also been violated,” he also said. 

Decrees have been issued leading to the dismissal and suspension of over 100,000 people under that state of emergency, which Tanrıkulu described as “unconstitutional.” He also said the courts’ rejection of these cases “is against the law.”