ISTANBUL 10

Early day motion 234, tabled 20 July 2017 by Chris Law (Scottish National Party). Signed by 11 members.

That this House notes with grave concern the arrest of 10 human rights defenders at a workshop in Istanbul, including Idil Eser, Amnesty International's Turkey Director, ostensibly for committing crimes in the name of a terrorist organisation without being a member; notes that holding these individuals in pre-trial custody despite an utter lack of credible evidence seems to represent a complete collapse of human rights in Turkey; calls on the Government to do all it can to guarantee the safety of those in custody, as well as call for their immediate and unconditional release, and to put pressure on Turkey to stop the targeting of human rights campaigners; and furthermore hopes that increased pressure after the UK leaves the EU for trade deals with non-EU countries will not lead to compromise in protection of worldwide human rights.

Signatures by party: Scottish National Party 7, Labour 2, Conservative 1, DUP 1.