Photo by Kuzzat Altay on Unsplash
MEPs in Strasbourg have adopted three resolutions on alleged human rights violations in three countries: Türkiye, China and Iraq.
They voiced “deep concern” about the ongoing “deterioration of democratic standards” in Türkiye, and the targeting of independent journalists, activists and opposition members.
The sentence against Bülent Mumay was condemned and members called on the authorities to drop the charges against him and “all arbitrarily detained media workers, political opponents, human rights defenders, civil servants and academics.”
MEPs were concluding a busy week in the French city with a debate on human rights on 10 October.
In the debate, they “deplored a complex web of legislation that systematically silences and controls journalists, and denounce the new “foreign agent regulation” to be introduced by the end of 2024.”
The Turkish authorities are urged to restore judicial independence, respect press freedom and ensure compliance with international human rights obligations.
The cases of what are called “unjustly imprisoned” Uyghurs in China, notably Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas, were also raised in the parliamentary plenary.
A resolution by MEPs states, “China must immediately and unconditionally release Ilham Tohti, 2019 Sakharov Prize laureate, and Gulshan Abbas, as well as all those arbitrarily detained in China,” MEPs say.
They strongly condemn the human rights violations against Uyghurs and people in Tibet, Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China.
The resolution which was adopted on Thursday demands that all internment camps be closed and denounces abusive policies, intense surveillance, forced labour, sterilisation, birth prevention measures and the destruction of the Uyghur identity, which amount to crimes against humanity and constitute a serious risk of genocide.
MEPs welcome the EU’s forced labour regulation and call on businesses operating in China to comply with the human rights due diligence obligations.
Iraq, notably the situation of women’s rights and the recent proposal to amend the Personal Status Law, were also under the spotlight in Strasbourg.
MEPs urged Iraq’s Parliament to fully and immediately reject the amendments to the Personal Status Law and warn of the consequences of this recent proposal, which they claim “violates Iraq’s international obligations on women’s fundamental rights.”
Euro deputies praised the women, including Members of the Iraqi Parliament who have condemned the reform, and the NGOs, activists and members of civil society that are fighting to preserve one of the most progressive laws in the region.
