DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS IN TURKEY

Early day motion 1760, tabled 26 October 2018 by Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Labour/Co-operative). Signed by 16 members.

That this House expresses its grave concern that the Turkish Minister .of the Interior has suspended from duty 103 village and 156 neighbourhood mukhtars (elected local community heads) without recourse to appropriate and required legal process; notes that these suspensions are justified on unproven grounds of association with terrorism; further notes that this measure follows the removal of 98 elected mayors in Kurdish areas and their replacement with appointed trustees; notes that these measures together amount to a further reduction of democratic rights for the Kurdish population in Turkey ahead of the local elections scheduled for March 2019; and notes that any representation of the Kurdish population in the administration of Turkey is being proscribed by the Turkish government.

Signatures by party: Labour 7, Plaid Cymru 2, Scottish National Party 2, Conservative 1, DUP 1, Independent 1, Labour/Co-operative 1, Liberal Democrat 1.