Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 June 2016
320. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware of reports that Turkish soldiers shot dead eight refugees on the Turkish-Syrian border on 19 June 2016; that it has been reported that 60 civilians have been shot while trying to flee across the border from Syria into Turkey since the beginning of 2016; and if he will urgently raise these cases with his Turkish counterpart. [18221/16]
View answerI learned with concern of the death of eight refugees on the Turkish-Syrian border on 19 June. I am also aware that the Turkish Foreign Ministry has refuted allegations that the refugees were shot by border guards, saying that Turkish security forces ‘act fully within the legal framework’.
Furthermore, I am aware of recent reports by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, including testimony from migrants and witnesses that some Turkish border guards have used violence against Syrians.
These reports are very worrying. While Turkey has a right to secure its border with Syria, all actions on the part of Turkey must be in line with international law.
More broadly, the issue of human rights in Turkey has been raised by the Taoiseach at meetings of the European Council and continues to form an integral part of the country’s enlargement process, which we, along with our European partners, keep under close review. At the Foreign Affairs Council on 23 May, I reiterated Ireland’s concerns in respect of the rule of law, human rights and freedom of the media in Turkey and the need to hold Turkey to account to the core European values inherent in the accession process.
