UN rights boss concerned over arrests, renewal of state of emergency in Turkey

GENEVA - Reuters

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U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein voiced deep concern on May 1 at mass arrests, sackings and the renewal of the state of emergency in Turkey, saying terror should not be tackled at the expense of human rights.

“It is highly unlikely that the suspensions and detentions will have met due process standards,” Zeid told a news briefing after the latest round of suspensions of civil servants and arrests of police in the country.

“Journalism is not a crime in Turkey, it is an issue the government must pay deep attention to,” he added.

Nearly 4,000 public officials were dismissed on April 30, including more than 1,000 people working for the justice ministry.

"With such a large number, it is highly unlikely these suspensions and detentions will have met due process standards," Zaid said, referring to the 3,974 public officials who were fired and the wider nine-month arrests since the July 2016 failed coup attempt.

Zeid also said he was "very concerned about the renewed state of emergency," which Turkey extended by parliamentary vote on April 18, saying the decision was made amid "a climate of fear in the country."  

The state of emergency in place since the coup bid has seen a total of 47,000 people arrested.