Freedom House criticizes Erdoğan remarks on revoking citizenship

WASHINGTON

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Democracy watchdog organization Freedom House issued a press release on April 6 criticizing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s recent statements on stripping “terrorist sympathizers” of their citizenship. 

“This is a chilling escalation that should put the international community on notice that Turkish democracy is at a breaking point. Turkey already suffers from overly broad and overly vague definitions of terrorism and terror propaganda that have left thousands of people subject to arbitrary justice. Stripping citizenship from people in a state where authorities routinely ignore the rule of law will lead to more violence,” Mark P. Lagon, Freedom House’s president, said in the press release.

During a speech on April 5, Erdoğan lashed out at academics, journalists, politicians and civil servants who, he believes, support terror groups, saying the state does not have to “carry anyone who is in treason to the state and nation on its back.”

“We have to be determined to take all measures including revoking citizenship in order to eliminate supporters of the terrorist group. They cannot even be our citizens,” said Erdoğan in his remarks, which were followed by statements from Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ noting that required work would be done in that regard.