EP expresses strong concern over handling of Gezi Park protests
The European Parliament have expressed harsh criticism against handling of the countrywide protests by the Turkish government.
In a resolution accepted yesterday the European Parliament said it was “deeply concerned at the disproportionate and excessive use of force by Turkish police to break up peaceful and legitimate protests in Istanbul’s Gezi Park”.
The statement went on to say;
“The parliamentarians warn against the use of harsh measures against peaceful protesters and Erdoğan must take a unifying and conciliatory position. Those responsible for the police violence must be brought to justice, detained peaceful protesters immediately released and the victims compensated”.
The resolution also welcomed a soft statement by President Abdullah Gül and apologies to protesters by Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç, while deploring “the unwillingness of the Turkish government and Mr. Erdoğan to take steps towards reconciliation, to apologize and to understand the reactions of a segment of the Turkish population.”
Moreover, European parliamentarians also expressed concern about “the deterioration in press freedom, including acts of censorship and growing self-censorship within the Turkish media,” complaining that the mainstream media remained silent about the demonstrations.
13.06.2013
SOURCE: MEDIA
