MEDIA ADVISORY
18 October 2017
EU: Leaders must press Turkey on human rights
· European Parliament President calls for release of Amnesty Turkey Director
· Spokespeople available
Ahead of the 19-20 October European Council meeting, which is expected to issue conclusions on Turkey, Iverna McGowan, Director of Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office, said:
“EU leaders must publicly condemn the brutal and protracted crackdown on human rights defenders and journalists in Turkey, and stand firmly on the side of human rights. They must call for the immediate and unconditional release of all those wrongfully imprisoned in Turkey, including our colleagues.”
Amnesty International yesterday held a birthday party for its Turkey Director Idil Eser in the European Parliament. This was joined by a number of MEPs, including the Chair of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights Antonio Panzeri and the European Parliament President Antonio Tajani who both called for her release.
“Idil has spent her birthday behind bars, where she has been for more than 100 days now, and where she could face spending 15 years on trumped up charges of ‘membership of a terrorist organization’. The grave injustices done to her and other human rights defenders in Turkey cannot be ignored by European leaders,” said Iverna McGowan.
For more information or to arrange an interview, contact Amnesty International press office on [email protected] +32 2 548 27 73 or +32 483 680 812
Background
Amnesty International wrote to President Tusk ahead of the Summit
On Tuesday 17 October Amnesty International and Pier Antonio Panzeri MEP held a party in the European Parliament for photos please contact [email protected]