Human Rights Association urges government to democratize

Although facing imminent defeat, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will remain in power in Turkey for another five years. The severe economic crisis, lack of post-earthquake aid, corruption scandals and growing anti-refugee sentiment has weakened his popularity, yet he still holds the majority of votes. The opposition fears that a tougher policy will lead to more repression. The Human Rights Association (IHD) in Turkey, which issued a statement, shares these fears.

In its statement on the election results, the IHD underlines that Erdogan was elected president in an environment where there was no equal opportunity between political parties and voters and where democratic conditions were not created. Stating that half of the citizens adopted another opinion despite the heavy pressure of the authoritarian regime, the IHD continues: “Although each political party in the opposition has a different opinion, it is seen that there is a common democratic objection. We human rights defenders believe that the existence of such a democratic objection and the desire for democratization must be accepted by the government. This objection should be taken into consideration and a political program in favor of rights and freedoms should be prioritized. We believe that a practice in accordance with domestic and international law on the basis of universal rights should be implemented.”

The IHD also calls for the immediate release of politicians, human rights defenders and journalists held in prisons for political reasons. It is urging the re-signing of the Istanbul Convention. The association adds that the government is using a discriminatory, marginalizing and sometimes hateful discourse against the opposition and that this must change immediately. It calls on the authorities to end hate speech, especially against LGBTQI+ people, and to recognize their rights.

According to the statement, the most important result of the election is the Kurdish people’s overwhelming opposition to the security and violence policies: “We state that the government should immediately abandon its stance on the Kurdish issue and take democratic steps. Half of the people living in the geography have openly expressed their dissatisfaction with the political practices and administration of the government and voted in this direction. As human rights defenders, we argue that the political power, taking into account this concrete reality, should act as soon as possible to ensure democratic conditions and a political system and understanding that protect rights.”