Turkish Parliament urges Egypt not execute mass death penalty sentences

ANKARA

Relations between Cairo and Ankara have deteriorated since July last year when the Egyptian military toppled Morsi following enormous protests against his one-year rule.

The Turkish Parliament has released a joint declaration urging Egypt not to execute 529 supporters of deposed Islamist President Mohamed Morsi who were given the death penalty in a mass sentencing which has triggered international outcry.

Read by Deputy Parliament Speaker Meral Akşener during a General Assembly session late on April 9, the joint declaration was signed by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP).

It first of all underlined Turkey’s support for the Egyptian people’s demands for democracy, human rights, fundamental freedoms, rule of law, equality of opportunity and welfare.

“We know the Egyptian people have the right, ability and will to define its own future in the healthiest way without any external intervention and we trust them,” the declaration said.

“It is obvious that death penalty sentences delivered for political reasons will hurt the consciences of all of humanity, not only that of the Egyptian people,” it said, emphasizing Turkey’s concerns that executions of these penalties would lead to further tension and prompt feelings of revenge.

The way to build peace and democracy in Egypt is through freedom and human rights, the Turkish lawmakers maintained.

“Accordingly, as the Turkish Parliament, our goal is solely underlining that we have been in solidarity with our Egyptian brothers and sisters,” the declaration said, reflecting the utmost care not to intimidate the Egyptian leadership, with whom Turkey already has a problematic relationship.

The declaration warned the execution of the death penalty sentences would cast a shadow over Egypt’s democratic struggle, hopes, dreams and future and would remain “a black stain on humanity’s history.” It ended by stressing that what was said was “the joint will of the Turkish nation, which is manifested at the Parliament.”

Relations between Cairo and Ankara have deteriorated since July last year when the Egyptian military toppled Morsi following enormous protests against his one-year rule.

The Turkish government, led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has been a staunch backer of Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood group.