Verhofstadt: 'Death penalty will only lead to an end of talks with #Turkey'

Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament (pictured), comments on the recent developments in Turkey: “President Erdogan clearly is abusing the coup to prosecute his political opponents. It is a good thing that Turkey escaped a new military dictatorship, but only if democracy is being maintained.

"What we see now is a further crackdown by the AKP on the freedom of the press, on the independence of the judiciary and on the rule of law. This will deteriorate the EU-Turkey relationship.

"The reintroduction of the death penalty is an absolute red line that should not be crossed. But also purges in the military and other arbitrary sanctions outside the framework of the law should be stopped immediately. Erdogan’s reaction to the coup has taken his country further down the wrong path.

"I call upon Mogherini and Tusk to freeze all talks with Turkey until Mr Erdogan commits to upholding European values. Moreover, the European leaders in charge of Foreign Affairs should push for a drastic improvement of the human rights situation in Turkey and the strengthening of the rule of law.”

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