Erdogan must respect citizens’ freedom of speech – ALDE Party President
Press Release, the ALDE party, June 3, 2013
What began last Monday as a small, peaceful protest to save an inner city park in Istanbul has now transformed into the largest and most violent anti-government protests that Turkey has seen in years. Commenting today on the protests, ALDE Party President Sir Graham Watson said: “while I deeply regret the use of violence, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan must get used to the idea that people are not satisfied with expressing their voices only every four years at the ballot box.”
“Freedom of speech and assembly is an essential foundation of human rights and democratic decision making. Authoritarian rule and censored state-controlled media are more of a ‘menace to society’ than social media which plays an increasing role as a means for citizens to exercise freedom of expression.”
“Liberals welcome the initial statements made by the Ministry of Interior to assess whether the police were excessively violent with demonstrators.”
“If Turkey claims to be a democratic country then its government must take into account the legitimate concerns of protest groups and of minorities in general.”
Posted: June 3rd, 2013 under Political Parties, The ALDE party.