The Human Rights Group consisting of MPs from 7 political parties in the Swedish parliament issued a statement and condemned the human rights violations in Turkey and the pressure against the HDP.
The Human Rights Group stated that the Turkish government using the July 15 coup attempt as an excuse to attack civil society, rule of law and human rights, and pointed out the mass arrests and expulsions for public workers, teachers and journalists.
The Human Rights Group said the latest attack was on the HDP, third largest party in the parliament, and that 10 MPs including co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ had been arrested and continued: “As members of the Swedish parliament, we demand our colleagues from HDP be released immediately and returned to their duties. Arresting politicians elected by the people goes against the will of the people and international human rights aggreements.”
The Human Rights Group stated that the state apparatus strengthening its legal standing by restricting human rights every day gives them concern and that Turkey should honor the treaties they signed protecting human rights and strengthen parliamentarianism and democracy.
The Human Rights Group called on the Swedish government to take the matter to the European Union’s agenda for democratic reforms and a return to peace negotiations.
The statement is signed by Serkan Köse from the Social Democrat Labor Party, Erik Bentzboe from the Moderate Party, Maria Weimer from the Liberal Party, Kerstin Lundgren from the Central Party, Lotta Johnsson Fornarve from the Left Party, Sofia Damm from the Christian Democrat Party and Annika Lillemets from the Greens.
