🆘 Alas, that’s us🫢🥲 We kindly request that every country in the world raise its voice.🙏🏻
"is happening in Turkey must be called by its name. This is not justice. This is political persecution. In the trial against Ekrem Imamoglu, we have reached an unacceptable point. The defendant was not even allowed to properly speak in his own defense. This contradicts the most basic principles of the rule of law. Let us be clear. Imamoglu is not just any defendant. He is the political figure who could challenge and win against Erdogan at national level. That is why this trial exists. To push him aside, to weaken the opposition, to remove a credible democratic alternative before Turkish citizens can freely choose through fair and free election. And this is not an isolated case. We have seen judicial attacks against the legitimate leadership of the CHP, Turkey's main opposition party. We have seen journalists, activists and NGOs targeted in recent weeks while international attention was focused on the NATO summit. And now even a comedian, Deniz Goktaş, is in prison for a stand-up routine. A country where a mayor is silenced in court. The opposition is under attack. Journalists are threatened or arrested. NGOs are intimidated. And a comedian can be jailed for a joke. He is not behaving like a democracy. Turkey is an essential partner for European security and NATO. But partnership cannot mean silence. Turkish is also a member of the Council of Europe and a candidate country for the European Union. That means obligations. Democracy, rule of law, independent court, free expression and political pluralism. Erdogan is dismantling what remains of Turkish democracy. And we, European democrats, say it clearly. No strategic alliance can justify turning a blind eye to political trials, repression and fear. Lima Moglu must have a fair trial. The legitimate leadership of the CHP must be respected. Journalists, activists and NGOs must be free. Deniz Goktaş must be released. And the Turkish citizens must be free to choose their future in a democratic way without any intimidation."
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🆘 Alas, that’s us🫢🥲 We kindly request that every country in the world raise its voice.🙏🏻
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