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The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has called for a commission to be formed to investigate whether Turkey fulfills its international obligations towards its citizens.
The parliamentary research request submitted by HDP İzmir MP Ertuğrul Kürkçü has reminded that some clauses of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) have been violated within the scope of the State of Emergency.
“According to Article 15 of the ECHR, governments can suspend the convention in states of exception and ‘on the condition of not contradicting liabilities rooted in international law’”.
“However, as per the same article, 2nd article that regulates right to life, 3rd article that regulates torture prohibition, 4th article that regulates slavery and forced labor, and 7th article stating ‘No one shall be held guilty of any criminal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a criminal offence under national or international law at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the criminal offence was committed’ cannot be violated by any means”.
Remarking that “rights violations have been directed at dissident circles”, Kürkçü underlined that “By means of rights violations, Kurdish political movement, Alawi struggle, women movement, unions and worker movement, foundations and NGOs have been taken under pressure through public force”. (YY/TK)
