Freedom House: Turkey Declines to 'Not Free' Countries

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Freedom House has released its Freedom in the World 2018 report that is on political rights and freedoms. Telling that the democracy is under attack in the whole world, Turkey declined to “Not Free” category from “Partly Free”.

Turkey regressed to “Not Free” category for the first time in the report, which has been published for 18 years.

Stating that “Democracy faced its most serious crisis in decades in 2017 as its basic tenets—including guarantees of free and fair elections” in the press release, Freedom House President Michael J. Abramowitz said, “the rights of minorities, freedom of the press, and the rule of law—came under attack around the world”.

Abramowitz added:

“A long list of troubling developments around the world contributed to the global decline in 2017, but perhaps most striking was the accelerating withdrawal of the United States from its historical commitment to promoting and supporting democracy. The potent challenge from authoritarian regimes made the United States’ abdication of its traditional role all the more important”.

Turkey

Turkey’s decline to “Not Free” category was announced as a “significant development” in the report. The report read:

“Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan broadened and intensified the crackdown on his perceived opponents that began after a failed 2016 coup attempt.

“In addition to its dire consequences for detained Turkish citizens, shuttered media outlets, and seized businesses, the chaotic purge has become intertwined with an offensive against the Kurdish minority, which in turn has fueled Turkey’s diplomatic and military interventions in neighboring Syria and Iraq”. (EA/TK)