EU Turkey Delegation, diplomats visit Human Rights Association co-chair after detention

Photo: İHD

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The EU Turkey Delegation and representatives from 11 countries' diplomatic missions have paid a visit to Human Rights Association Co-Chair Öztürk Türkdoğan after his release from detention.

Türkdoğan, along with Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) members, was detained on March 19 and was released on probation with an international travel ban later in the day.

After his release, he said, "I faced the charge of being a member of an illegal organization. It is really sad. No human rights defender has anything to do with illegal organizations. We were naturally expecting such a possibility after the Interior Minister's remarks about our association and after he targeted us."

Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu targeted the association following the killing of 13 people in Iraqi Kurdistan during a military operation, claiming that it had been taken over by Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) members.

Today's visit was as part of the EU's local strategy in Turkey to support and defend human rights defenders, the EU Turkey Delegation said on its Twitter account.

During the meeting, Türkdoğan's detention, the allegations in the investigation and the current state of human rights in Turkey were discussed, the İHD said on its website.

Diplomats from the US, Germany, France, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, Norway and Canada attended the meeting, it said.

The European Union Delegation to Turkey and representatives of 11 other embassies visited the Human Rights Association Chairperson Lawyer Öztürk Türkdoğan today as per the EU local strategy in Turkey to support and defend Human Rights Defenders. https://t.co/8P2zUzRrzw pic.twitter.com/pV7Bd9N7XB

— AB Türkiye Delegasyonu ???????? EU Delegation Turkey (@EUDelegationTur) March 23, 2021

(EMK/VK)