A group of intellectuals and diplomats released an "Open call to the government" published by Sweden's largest morning newspaper, Dagens Nyheter.

The call was initiated by former Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg, former administrator of the Swedish Social Democratic Party, minister and UN Ambassador Pierre Schori, and Swedish Kurdish writer and journalist Kurdo Baksi.

Calling attention to Sweden’s concessions in return for NATO membership, the petitioners demanded an immediate end to the deportations and defence of the rights of the Kurds.

Noting that “Sweden's concessions to Turkey affect innocent people”, the petitioners said: “Deportations to Turkey must be stopped immediately and the human rights of the Kurds must be defended.”

Citing the many people extradited to Turkey in recent months, the petitioners said: “There is a saying that captures what is going on now: If you bend justice, it will be broken.”

The petitioners called attention to the memorandum signed between Sweden, Finland and Turkey at the Madrid summit last summer, saying, “One sentence in the memorandum has a particularly serious impact on the Kurds who have sought a free life in our country.”

The petitioners revealed that the intelligence provided by Turkey can be used as a reason for deportation. “It is also important to understand that Erdogan uses the concept of terrorism in a very different manner than Sweden. All opposition, including those who kindly criticize him, is designated as terrorists.”

The petitioners continued: “The representatives of Sweden have made too many concessions so far. This situation has victimized innocent people and led to a serious concern among our friends connected with Turkey. If Sweden continues to support Erdogan's hateful and ill-intentioned election campaign, this will be nothing less than a shameful scandal. There should be no more deportations.”

Those who signed the open call are as follows:

Kurdo Baksi, Swedish Kurdish writer and journalist

Göran Eriksson, former chief of ABF Stockholm

Ahmad Eskandari, Swedish Kurdish opinion leader

Göran Greider, author, chief editor of the Dala-Demokraten newspaper

Thomas Hammarberg, author, former Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe

Helle Klein, editor-in-chief of the Dagens Arbete newspaper

Terfa Nisebini, Lawyer

Arne Ruth, former chief editor of the Dagens Nyheter newspaper

Pierre Schori, Former Minister of Immigration Affairs and Ambassador to the UN

Omar Sheikhmous, researcher on Middle East issues

Vildan Tanrikulu, former head of the Swedish Kurdistan Associations Federation