Rebecca Harms, together with other Members of the European Parliament and of the EP-Turkey Forum, has issued a statement concerning the continued detention of Taner Kılıç despite previous court decision to release him.
"The re-arrest of Amnesty International’s Turkey chair Taner Kılıç is a travesty of justice.
Yesterday, an Istanbul court ordered his conditional release after spending eight months in pre-trial detention. To everyone's shock, today the same trial court has overturned its own release verdict making him stay in pre-trial detention with no ground provided.
Yesterday's decision constituted a milestone and a vital step in exculpation of Taner Kılıç and of the Istanbul 10 human rights activists accused of "membership to a terrorist organisation", an allegation for which there is no evidence that would stand up to scrutiny.
We deeply regret this situation and call for an immediate review of the decision. We are witnessing unusual legal manoeuvres which are a reflection of the current dire state of the Turkish judicial system, as well as the erosion of rule of law and the separation of powers."
About the European Parliament Turkey Forum
The EP-Turkey Forum aims to advance a well-informed debate on issues related to EU-Turkey relations from a constructive point of view, while serving as a bridge between Turkey and the EU. The forum acts as platform that brings together European and Turkish officials, political decision-makers, experts, civil society and business actors. In the past seven years, the group has successfully positioned itself at the core of the debate on EU-Turkey relations.
The EP-Turkey Forum is composed of 60 MEPs coming from the major political groups in the European Parliament. MEPs Anna Maria Corazza Bildt (EPP) and Ismail Ertug (S&D) are the co-chairs of the EP-Turkey Forum. MEPs Rebecca Harms (Greens/EFA), Javi López (S&D), Kati Piri (S&D), Marietje Schaake (ALDE) and Jordi Solé (Greens/EFA) are the vice-chairs.
