The head of the human rights watchdog Council of Europe, Thorbjorn
Jagland, is going to Turkey next week amid a proposed roadmap from
Ankara to fastrack EU-required reforms, in order to lift visa
restrictions on Turks.
But his visit, the third to Turkey since the failed military coup in July 2016, also comes amid renewed tensions between Ankara and the EU.
Jagland is hoping detained journalists will be released from jail and is meeting Turkey's ministers of justice and foreign affairs to discuss options when it comes to the state of emergency and the freedom of expression.
"Our principle is that journalists should not be locked merely for reporting about terrorism. Writing about terrorists doesn't automatically make you a terrorist yourself," Jagland's spokesperson Daniel Holtgen, said in an email.
Turkey's troubled justice system will also be on the agenda. Last month, the nation's top constitutional court demanded the release of two reporters, Mehmet Altan and Sahin Alpay but later reportedly changed its position. Both are facing life sentences.
Holtgen said the constitutional court is seen as "key to implementing the European Convention of Human Rights in Turkey."
The Altan and Alpay case appears to have resonated with Turkey's ambassador to the European Union, Faruk Kaymakci, who told reporters last week the country is going through a difficult time.
"It is a very interesting case but the problem again here is because we are going through a very complex time, a very complicated time," he said.
Read more: Rights watchdog to visit Turkey over rule of law
But his visit, the third to Turkey since the failed military coup in July 2016, also comes amid renewed tensions between Ankara and the EU.
Jagland is hoping detained journalists will be released from jail and is meeting Turkey's ministers of justice and foreign affairs to discuss options when it comes to the state of emergency and the freedom of expression.
"Our principle is that journalists should not be locked merely for reporting about terrorism. Writing about terrorists doesn't automatically make you a terrorist yourself," Jagland's spokesperson Daniel Holtgen, said in an email.
Turkey's troubled justice system will also be on the agenda. Last month, the nation's top constitutional court demanded the release of two reporters, Mehmet Altan and Sahin Alpay but later reportedly changed its position. Both are facing life sentences.
Holtgen said the constitutional court is seen as "key to implementing the European Convention of Human Rights in Turkey."
The Altan and Alpay case appears to have resonated with Turkey's ambassador to the European Union, Faruk Kaymakci, who told reporters last week the country is going through a difficult time.
"It is a very interesting case but the problem again here is because we are going through a very complex time, a very complicated time," he said.
Read more: Rights watchdog to visit Turkey over rule of law
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