Council of Europe parliamentary assembly condemns political repression in Turkey

STRASBOURG, France — The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a resolution on Wednesday condemning the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and warning of the continued erosion of democracy and human rights in Turkey. The resolution also welcomed the historic peace call made by imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, while expressing deep concern over recent political developments.

The resolution denounced İmamoğlu’s arrest on March 19, describing the charges against him as baseless and politically motivated. His detention followed his nomination as the main opposition candidate for the 2028 presidential elections. PACE criticized the revocation of İmamoğlu’s university degree—a constitutional requirement for presidential candidacy—as a deliberate attempt to weaken the opposition, restrict political freedoms, and stifle democratic discourse in Turkey. 

The assembly also condemned the excessive use of force by Turkish police against peaceful protesters demonstrating against İmamoğlu’s detention. Among those arrested were journalists from Turkey and abroad, students, civilians, and women, while a blanket ban on demonstrations was imposed. PACE expressed grave concern over the escalating political repression in Turkey and called for urgent judicial reforms to ensure the independence of the judiciary, which it described as being under government control. The assembly urged that the upcoming presidential elections be free and fair, with unrestricted media freedom to ensure transparency. 

At the same time, PACE welcomed Öcalan’s peace call on February 27, describing it as a significant step toward reconciliation. The assembly called on Turkey to implement serious reforms to safeguard democratic freedoms, ensure judicial independence, and uphold the rule of law. It warned that Ankara’s ongoing violations undermine democracy and cast doubt on Turkey’s commitment to human rights. 

The resolution also urged all member states of the Council of Europe to adopt a unified and firm stance against the ongoing violations in Turkey, emphasizing the need to resist remaining silent in the face of its accelerating democratic decline.