Sittings · Document
On the case of Bülent Mumay in Türkiye
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group · Rapporteur: Vladimir Prebilič, Erik Marquardt, Mélissa Camara, Ville Niinistö, Nicolae Ştefănuță, Mounir Satouri, Leoluca Orlando, Catarina Vieira, Sergey Lagodinsky
A resolution on the case of journalist Bülent Mumay in Türkiye, who was sentenced for reporting on alleged corruption. Parliament condemns the pressure on media and calls for his release and that of all political prisoners.¶¶¶ It urges Turkish authorities to end harassment of independent media, expresses concern about judicial independence, and calls on EU institutions to prioritize fundamental rights in relations with Türkiye and support civil society and journalists.¶¶¶
Key points
- Condemns the continued systemic pressure campaign against journalists and critical voices in Türkiye, despite a decrease in jailed journalists.¶
- Urges Turkish authorities to end harassment of independent media and immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners, including Osman Kavala and Selahattin Demirtaş.¶
- Expresses deep concern about political instrumentalisation of the Turkish judiciary and its lack of independence, noting that Mumay may not get redress.¶
- Calls on the future High Representative and the new Commission to put fundamental rights, rule of law and democracy at the centre of engagement with Türkiye, and to push for implementation of ECtHR verdicts on Kavala and Demirtaş.¶
- Calls on the Commission, Member States and the EU Delegation in Ankara to publicly condemn harassment campaigns and to attend and monitor trials against journalists and dissidents.¶
- Calls on the Commission to focus EU funding for Türkiye on supporting civil society and independent media.¶
- Calls on the EU and Member States to issue emergency visas and facilitate temporary shelter for journalists and human rights activists from Türkiye.¶
Who is affected
- Journalists and critical voices in Türkiye, including Bülent Mumay, who face legal persecution and threats.¶¶
- Political prisoners in Türkiye, such as Osman Kavala and Selahattin Demirtaş, whose release is demanded.¶
- Turkish authorities and judiciary, urged to end harassment and ensure independence.¶¶
- EU institutions and Member States, called upon to act in support of media freedom and human rights in Türkiye.¶¶¶
Figures and deadlines
- 20-month suspended sentence given to Bülent Mumay on 6 May 2023.¶
Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text and ¶ links to the paragraph it rests on. Check the text itself before relying on it.