PRESS RELEASE: Feryal Clark MP condemns unjust Kobani Trials

Feryal Clark, MP for Enfield North, has condemned the “Kobani Trials”, where a number of opposition politicians from the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) are being tried by the Turkish government.

The trials, where a number of elected officials from across Turkey stand accused on a series of politically-motivated charges, have been condemned by the international community as another example of the frank disregard shown for human rights and free speech by the Turkish government and President Erdogan.

Feryal Clark said: “I remain concerned and outraged by the treatment of the HDP and the many democratically elected HDP representatives at the hands of the Turkish Government and Judiciary.

“These trials show a frank disregard for democracy and the rule of law, and an intolerance for pluralism in politics from the Turkish Government.

“In March I secured a debate in Parliament, which you can view in full here, which focused on the arrest of opposition politicians in Turkey. This debate allowed me and a number of cross-party MPs to raise our concerns and question the Minister for European Neighbourhoods, Wendy Morton MP, on this important issue.

“I, along with my fellow MPs, will continue to call on the UK government to hold the Turkish Government to account and call on Turkey to stop their attack on human rights, freedom of speech and the opposition MPs.”