MEP: International investigation into Turkey’s rule of law needed


Date posted: January 21, 2014

 İSTANBUL

Ahead of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Brussels, Dutch member of the European Parliament Marietje Schaake, from the Democrats 66 party, has called for an independent international investigation into the rule of law in Turkey in light of the crisis in the country.

In a press statement released on Tuesday, Schaake stated: “The separation of powers is under immense pressure in Turkey and the rule of law is not upheld. This crisis also impacts the relations between the European Union and Turkey, because measures taken, such as political intervention with the judicial branch, are not in line with European rules. The independence of the judiciary has been a concern for Europe for much longer. I hope the current crisis in Turkey will be soon be resolved and that we can concentrate on the accession negotiations.”

The statement added that over the past month, politicians from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) have been accused of corruption and retaliated by accusing the judiciary of being infiltrated by supporters of the Hizmet movement with a hidden agenda.

Hundreds of police officers and public prosecutors have now been fired or removed from their files and Prime Minister Erdoğan has also accused the international community and financial markets of plotting against Turkey, Schaake said.

While Schaake remains convinced of the potential benefits of Turkish accession for both the EU and Turkey, the time has come to take a clear European stance against this unprecedented turmoil in Turkey, the statement added.

“My party has always emphasized the importance of a functioning rule of law, the separation of powers and respect for human rights in Turkey. The accession process can contribute to these principles, but the problems are now so immense that they need to be investigated independently. Because of the mistrust and polarization, an investigation led by an international committee of experts would have the greatest effect. The European Commission should propose this to Erdoğan and international partners,” said Schaake.

In response to the crisis, the Turkish government has once again cracked down on digital

freedoms, Schaake stressed, adding that “This is not the first time that freedom of speech, freedom of the press and digital freedom are being repressed in Turkey. These measures prove that the country is not full-fledged democracy yet.”

On Schaake’s initiative, digital freedoms are now an integral part of the accession criteria of the EU (Copenhagen Criteria). The European Parliament has called for the opening of the negotiation chapters on the rule of law and fundamental rights, but the member states have not unanimously supported take this step, the statement also added.

Source: Todays Zaman , January 21, 2014

Tags: | | | |


Related News

As Turks flee oppression, Ottawa urged to speak out on human rights issues

Asylum seekers are still fleeing Turkey for Canada and other western countries, Kaplan said. “There’s at least 14 families (in my neighbourhood in Ottawa). I mean ladies (with kids). All their husbands have been arrested (in Turkey,)” he said. The women are not comfortable speaking out publicly for fear it could imperil their husbands behind bars in Turkey, he added.

The Persecution of the Hizmet (Gülen) Movement in Turkey: A Chronicle

Since the outbreak of the corruption scandal in Turkey in December 2013, Prime Minister and then President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his government have been particularly targeting the Hizmet (Gülen) movement.

It is unfair, unjust and politically motivated to incriminate the Gulen Movement

As a reader of Gulen’s thinking and a keen observer of the movement, I am convinced that they are aware of the viability of multiple approaches to resolve our global issues as well as the locally troubling scenarios. So to accuse and incriminate a movement that is based on the Islamic notion of hizmet (service) of a coup to topple a civilian rule is unfair, unjust and politically motivated for all practical reasons.

Yamanlar Schools students sweep AMC 8

İzmir’s Yamanlar Schools won 18 golden, 25 silver and 17 bronze medals at the recently held 60th Annual International AMC 8 contest, jointly held by Mathematical Association of America (MAA) and University of Nebraska. 350 thousand students from 6 thousand schools in 86 different countries attended the contest online.

Who was behind the Turkish Coup: Sufi Islamic Scholar Fathullah Gülen or the Regime itself?

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has bluntly blamed it on the Hizmet movement, Gülen’s initiative for intercultural and interfaith dialogue and education in the country expanding across the world today. But for many immensely impressed by Gülen’s global humanitarian, social and Islam-based peace activism, it remains an obscure question as to how the former ally of his country is now blamed for the coup.

Islamic scholar Gülen criticizes Turkish gov’t response to Gezi protests

Gülen said he had heard of Turkish officials’ efforts to “undermine Turkish schools abroad” which are run by his movement in many countries across the world. “Unfortunately, this appetite for destruction pushes all fair limits. These schools were established through the great self-sacrifice of the people of Anatolia,” he said.

Latest News

Turkish inmate jailed over alleged Gülen links dies of heart attack in prison

Message of Condemnation and Condolences for Mass Shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney

Media executive Hidayet Karaca marks 11th year in prison over alleged links to Gülen movement

ECtHR faults Turkey for convictions of 2,420 applicants over Gülen links in follow-up to 2023 judgment

New Book Exposes Erdoğan’s “Civil Death Project” Targeting the Hizmet Movement

European Human Rights Treaty Faces Legal And Political Tests

ECtHR rejects Turkey’s appeal, clearing path for retrials in Gülen-linked cases

Erdoğan’s Civil Death Project’ : The ‘politicide’ spanning more than a decade

Fethullah Gülen’s Vision and the Purpose of Hizmet

In Case You Missed It

Documents expose plot to hold Hizmet responsible for KPSS cheating

AKP politician Akdoğan: Gülen’s support for peace talks of vital importance

What else should Gülen say?

Cameroon delegation meets with Kimse Yok Mu

The end of ‘unshakable’ AKP myth

Sending Fethullah Gulen to Turkey would be a national disgrace

Bank Asya says raising capital, set for growth

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News