European Parliament warns Turkey over 'backsliding' of democracy

The European Parliament sent a stern warning to EU membership candidate Turkey on April 14, accusing the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government of "backsliding" on democracy and the rule of law.

The parliament "is deeply concerned" that Ankara is violating criteria needed to join the European Union "in the light of the backsliding on respect for democracy and rule of law inside Turkey," said a resolution approved by members of the European Parliament (MEPs). 

Rapporteur for Turkey at the European Parliament, Kati Piri, said the regression in areas such as freedom of expression and the independence of the judiciary was "particularly worrying," adding that the overall pace of reforms has also slowed down.

"We also express our concern about the escalation of violence in the southeast," Piri said, citing figures that nearly 400,000 civilians had to flee certain provinces where extensive operations against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) are being conducted. 

The MEPs also called on Turkey to end "intimidation of journalists" and condemned the "violent and illegal take-over of several newspapers," including daily Zaman. A local court had appointed trustees to Zaman media group, which is considered to be linked to U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, who Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an and the AKP accuse of heading a "terrorist organization" aiming to topple the government. 

The report also called for an immediate ceasefire in the country's southeast while calling upon the PKK to lay down its arms and "use peaceful and legal means to voice its expectations."

Ankara rejected the report, citing references that the mass killings of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire constituted...