“The European Union is deeply concerned about the negative developments in Turkey in the areas of the rule of law, human rights and the judiciary,” said Peter Stano, a spokesman for the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the Commission. and developments around Boğaziçi University in Turkey.
According to the spokesman, “the detention of more than 100 students exercising their legal right to freedom of assembly, as well as the decision of the Governor of Istanbul to prohibit all kinds of meetings, demonstrations and marches in two areas that cover the university. “Boğaziçi is a deeply worrying development, and he opposes the authorities' stated commitment to reforms in line with EU values and standards.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic cannot be used as a means of silencing critics,” he said.
“The hate speech used by high-ranking officials against LGBTI students during these events and the closure of an LGBTI association is unacceptable,” he said.
“We call on Turkey to respect its national and international obligations and to release those arbitrarily detained for exercising their right to peaceful assembly in recent weeks. “The excessive use of force by the police against those who exercise their right to freedom of opinion is contrary to Turkey's obligations as a candidate country and a longtime member of the Council of Europe.”
