EU calls for freedom of assembly in Turkey

The Council of Europe urged Turkey to take measures to guarantee freedom of assembly in accordance with the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

According to the news reported by Euronews Turkish, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted the provisional decision on the ‘Oya Ataman group case’ at its last quarterly meeting to monitor the implementation of ECtHR decisions. Recalling that it has been examining disproportionate interference with the freedom of peaceful assembly in Turkey for more than 15 years, the Committee requested the Turkish authorities to amend the Law No. 2911 on Gatherings and Demonstrations in accordance with the principles established in the jurisprudence . of the ECtHR and the Constitutional Court.

In addition, the Turkish authorities were urged to ensure that the implementation of the 2016 regulation on the use of tear gas and other weapons fully complies with international standards. Turkey was also asked to provide detailed information on the number of police surveillance of assemblies and demonstrations and the number of prosecutions and convictions for violations of Law No. 2911 in the last five years.

The Committee of Ministers also invited the Turkish authorities to train judges, prosecutors and law enforcement personnel on the implementation of relevant laws and human rights.