Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 May 2017
83. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise the oppression of Kurdish political activists and political parties in Kurdish areas with the authorities of the Republic of Turkey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25658/17]
View answer84. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised concerns either within the European Union or directly with Turkish President Erdoğan regarding the continued imprisonment of 15 opposition parliamentarians from the HDP party and up to 150 journalists by the Turkish Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25648/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 84 together.
I have repeatedly voiced my serious concerns about the deteriorating situation in Turkey, including its impact on the lives of the Kurdish population. The increasing tensions in the south-east of the country are deeply troubling, and I am also gravely concerned at the mounting threat to civil society by breaches of human rights and democratic norms.
I have called for the rights of all minorities in Turkey, including the Kurdish minority, to be respected at every opportunity, including in this House, at the Council of Europe, and at meetings with my EU colleagues, most recently at the Gymnich on 28 April. I have also repeatedly called for a resumption of dialogue to allow the political process on the Kurdish issue to resume.
On 4 November I issued a statement expressing my serious concern at the arrest of the two co-chairs of the pro-Kurdish HDP and other members of parliament. I made clear that this was a very worrying development and had a negative impact on democracy, human rights, freedom of expression and the rule of law.
My officials met with Mr Faysal Sarýyýldýz, an MP in the pro-Kurdish HDP party on 18 May, when he raised, inter alia, the case of his imprisoned colleagues. It is my understanding that eleven HDP MPs are still in custody, while four have been released on bail. I have repeatedly expressed my concerns at the conditions of all those in detention in Turkey and that it is critically important that the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial are respected.
My statements on developments in Turkey have been brought to the attention of the Turkish authorities, and I raised the issues of democracy and human rights, including the scale of those dismissed and detained since last July, with the Turkish Minister of the Economy when I met him on 25 April. I will continue to use every appropriate opportunity to highlight my concerns on these issues.
