UN and EU Condemn Arrest of Leaders of the Peoples' Democratic Party in Turkey

The UN Human Rights Office and the European Union condemned the arrest of leaders and senior members of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) in Turkey. The leader of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq has also called for the release of these individuals. Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, expressed concern over the recent arrests on Friday, November 14, stating that what Turkish officials are doing under their emergency powers is 'beyond permissible limits.' She noted that over 11,000 people have been suspended or arrested in Turkey following the failed coup, saying, 'When you dismiss someone, you must presume innocence; when you arrest someone, legal procedures must be followed.' According to Reuters, Shamdasani mentioned that the large number of detainees has raised concerns that legal procedures have not been followed in these cases. She added that the UN had also expressed concern last week over the arrest and suspension of elected representatives, but the deteriorating situation and media repression are also very worrying. The spokesperson emphasized that Turkey must act transparently and ensure its actions are within the law. She stated, 'We are concerned about the declaration of a state of emergency and the abrogation of specific principles of the international covenant on civil and political rights; the actions taken by Turkish officials in these areas are beyond permissible limits.' Turkish police arrested 11 members of the HDP, which has support from the Kurds, including two leaders of the party. Selahattin Demirtaş was arrested at his home in Diyarbakır in southern Turkey, and Figen Yüksekdağ is being interrogated in Ankara. The HDP currently holds 59 seats in the Turkish parliament and is the main party advocating for the rights of the Kurdish ethnic minority in the country. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım stated that elected officials who incite and encourage terrorism must be prosecuted, and those who have been arrested did so because they refused to testify. In response to these arrests, Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, issued a statement expressing deep concern over the arrests on Friday, emphasizing that the arrested leaders of this party were elected by the democratic vote of the people and are trusted individuals by the EU. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu reacted to Mogherini's comments, calling them 'unacceptable.' Masoud Barzani, the leader of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, also condemned the recent arrests and called for the immediate release of the HDP leaders and members. Additionally, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German Foreign Minister, condemned the bombing of a car in southeastern Turkey while stating that Turkey's fight against terrorism should not be an excuse to silence political opponents. He noted that he has always advised Turkey that if it wishes to join the EU, the government must clarify its direction and the importance of its relations with the EU. Boris Johnson, the British Foreign Minister, who participated in a joint press conference with his German counterpart, described Turkey as an important partner in the fight against Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria but stated that Berlin and London have serious concerns about the Turkish government's treatment of the media.