In a further blow to Turkey’s spotty global image, the Monitoring Committee
of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) called
March 8 for Turkey to come under its formal scrutiny,
a status reserved for members that are deemed to be backsliding on
democracy. Nine countries, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine and
Russia are currently on that hook.
In a report statement the Strasbourg-based body, of which Turkey is a founding member, said, “Eight months after the [July 15] failed coup and the declaration of a state of emergency, the Monitoring Committee is concerned to note that there has been a serious deterioration of the functioning of democratic institutions in the country.”
PACE cited the tidal wave of purges that have engulfed the country, with a quarter of all judges and prosecutors, a tenth of the police force, 30% of diplomats and 5,000 academics sacked without legal recourse. It also expressed alarm over widespread detentions of journalists and the lifting of immunity of 154 members of parliament.
A Final decision on Turkey's status is set to be made in April.
Read more: Will Turkey be added to European list of undemocratic countries?
In a report statement the Strasbourg-based body, of which Turkey is a founding member, said, “Eight months after the [July 15] failed coup and the declaration of a state of emergency, the Monitoring Committee is concerned to note that there has been a serious deterioration of the functioning of democratic institutions in the country.”
PACE cited the tidal wave of purges that have engulfed the country, with a quarter of all judges and prosecutors, a tenth of the police force, 30% of diplomats and 5,000 academics sacked without legal recourse. It also expressed alarm over widespread detentions of journalists and the lifting of immunity of 154 members of parliament.
A Final decision on Turkey's status is set to be made in April.
Read more: Will Turkey be added to European list of undemocratic countries?
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