UN calls for Turkey to end state of emergency, halt violations

GENEVA: The United Nations called on Turkey on Tuesday to end its 20-month-old state of emergency and accused Ankara of mass arrests, arbitrary sackings and other abuses that in some cases amounted to “collective punishment.”

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said the report was filled with unfounded allegations and compared the criticism with propaganda announcements from militant groups.

The UN human rights office said Turkey had arrested 160,000 people and dismissed nearly the same number of civil servants since a failed coup in July 2016.

The crackdown was having a “chilling effect” on Turkish society by showing that any dissent will be punished, the UN added.

The state of emergency, declared by President Tayyip Erdogan after the coup bid and still in force, has been used to justify the torture of detainees and interference with the judiciary, the UN human rights office said.

Turkey should “promptly end the state of emergency and restore the normal functioning of institutions and the rule of law,” the UN report said.

The Foreign Ministry in Ankara said the report showed prejudice against Turkey and ignored “the severe and multiple terrorist threats” it was facing.

The report “contains unfounded allegations matching up perfectly with the propaganda efforts of terrorist organizations,” the ministry added.

The Turkish government blames the network of Fethullah Gulen, a US-based Muslim cleric, for the failed coup attempt during which 250 people were killed. Gulen has denied any involvement.

Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the numbers of people arrested or dismissed are “just staggering.”