Turkish main opposition objects to ruling AKP's letter to Kerry, writes its own

Two leading members of the Turkey-United States Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group took initiative and penned a letter to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, in which they focused on the plight of fundamental freedoms in Turkey, contrary to what had been suggested by some 88 members of the group, led by its chair from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

Main opposition Republican People?s Party (CHP) Adana deputy Faruk Lo?o?lu and Ankara deputy Aylin Nazl?aka penned the letter, Lo?o?lu?s office said on March 12.

?We believe by now you should have received a letter dated Feb. 16, 2015, addressed to you by Mr. ?aban Di?li, Chairman of the Turkey-United States Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. We would not have been obliged to write this letter to you had it not been for the fact that the views expressed by Chairman Di?li do not at all represent our views as members of the Friendship Group on the matters raised in the letter. We the undersigned are MPs from the main opposition Republican People?s Party (CHP). The Di?li letter was sent to you without our consent,? the letter said, clarifying their situation.

?The poor and alarming state of fundamental freedoms, including and especially those of the freedom of expression, press and media in Turkey, is well known the world over. Journalists who dare to criticize the government are invariably prosecuted, generally put in jail or at best, lose their jobs after their bosses are intimidated by the government. There is really no need to belabor the point that the ever-increasing erosion of fundamental freedoms in Turkey is an affront to democracy and the rule of law,? continued the letter penned by Lo?o?lu, a veteran diplomat and former...