Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 April 2016
386. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he raised the killing of a person (details supplied) and if he will make a statement on the inaction of the Turkish Government to bring the perpetrators to justice. [7586/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe murder, in the south-eastern Turkish city of Diyarbakýr on 28 November, of the Kurdish human rights lawyer, Tahir Elçi, as well as that of two policemen killed nearby, was another tragic and very worrying development following the breakdown in the ceasefire between the Turkish Government and the Kurdistan Workers Party - the PKK - in July.
I condemned this brutal murder in the House on 17 December 2015. Mr Elçi was a strong and principled proponent of an end to the current violence and a return to the peace process and, as a human rights lawyer, he was critical of human rights abuses on all sides of the conflict.
The need for swift and transparent investigations into acts of terrorism has also been emphasised by the EU. I stated at that time of Mr Elçi’s murder that a full investigation would be important. I understand investigations are continuing, but as yet no perpetrator has been apprehended.
A commemoration for Mr Elçi was held in Diyarbakýr earlier this month, and is a reminder of the need to bring those responsible to justice.
