Turkey slams US over critical human rights report

Turkey has lashed out at the United States for criticizing measures taken in the aftermath of the July 2016 coup attempt in its annual human rights report, describing these criticisms as "unacceptable allegations, misrepresentations and interpretations that do not reflect reality."

"The parts of the latest report regarding Turkey, released on March 3, 2017, comprise unacceptable allegations, misrepresentations and interpretations that do not reflect reality. In this period, when we are faced with unprecedented threats of terrorism against the survival of our nation and state, misrepresentation of our legitimate struggle against terrorist organizations, in particular FETÖ [the Fethullahist Terror Organization], the PKK [Kurdistan Workers' Party], the DHKP-C [Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front] and DAESH [an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant], in a way that does not reflect realities, has caused deep disappointment," read the statement issued by the Foreign Ministry in response to a 75-page U.S. Department of State report. 

"Inconsistent access to due process," "government interference with freedom of expression," and "inadequate protection of civilians," especially in the aftermath of the July 2016 coup attempt, were among the significant human rights problems observed in 2016. 

"It is denotative that the report makes no reference to the role of FETÖ elements in the July 15 coup attempt, or the fact that the FETÖ leadership lives in the U.S. Also, the description of our fight against the PKK terrorist organization as an 'internal conflict' is totally unacceptable," the ministry stated. 

"It is clear that this report, which ignores information and opinions provided by our authorities within the...