During the last week, Turkish citizens, human rights defenders, trade unions and civil society organisations have come under attack by the Turkish government. What started as a peaceful demonstration has turned into a violent clash with the Turkish police and security services. In the protests, at least 3 people died and more than 2800 people were injured in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. Reports indicate that about 3000 people were taken into custody and many allegedly subjected to ill-treatment; several sources reported the disproportional use of gas and chemical substances to crackdown on the protests; and media sources reported over 25 twitter activists have been detained and placed in custody.
SOLIDAR, İnsan Hakları Derneği İHD, Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network, World Organisation Against Torture OMCT, the International Federation of Human Rights League FIDH, ISCOS CISL and other human rights organisations and trade unions have developed a draft resolution for the European Parliament in the run up to the plenary debate in Strasbourg on the situation in Turkey next Wednesday, 12 June. This draft resolution outlines the following recommendations urging the Turkish government to:
- Put an end to police violence and acts of ill-treatment against protestors to prevent further deaths and injuries.
- Stop the detention of protesters, human rights activists and social media activists under the pretence of fighting terrorism.
- Release all peaceful protestors from prison who were taken into custody during protests in Turkey and guarantee neither administrative nor judicial investigations will be initiated against them.
- Guarantee and respect the full right to freedom of expression, of peaceful assembly and of peaceful protest for all citizens.
- Guarantee the right to freedom of expression and press freedom for all journalists, bloggers, social media activists and human rights defenders.
- Guarantee the implementation of all signed and ratified international standards, conventions and agreements.
- In particular, abide by the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, as well as by the International Covenant on Political and Civil Rights that protects freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
- Reform the legal framework, the penal code and the anti-terror law to stop criminalising peaceful protests and civil activities based on their content.
- Issue an immediate, independent and impartial investigation into allegations of excessive use of force and ill-treatment against protestors, prosecute those who are found guilty and ensure that those who are politically accountable take their responsibility.
- Seek a peaceful solution through dialogue and debate, taking into account the demands and well-being of all Turkish citizens.
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 
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