MEPs express concern on deteroriation of Turkish democractic credentials

MEPs have expressed their deep concern about the ongoing deterioration of democratic standards in Türkiye, and the targeting of independent journalists, activists and opposition members.

MEPs deplored a complex web of legislation that systematically silences and controls journalists, and denounce the new “foreign agent regulation” to be introduced by the end of 2024.

In a statement, Parliament has called on Turkish authorities to restore judicial independence, respect press freedom and ensure compliance with international human rights obligations.

They also condemned the sentence against Bülent Mumay and call on the authorities to drop the charges against him.

Last year, Mumay, who leads DW’s Istanbul bureau, received a 20-month suspended sentence for “obtaining and publishing personal data without permission.” After an unsuccessful appeal, he began serving his sentence in June. The case stemmed from his Twitter posts about Met-Gun Insaat, a construction company linked to President Erdoğan, which had influenced city politics and seized public funds, despite an official ban on reporting the matter.