Letter from the "Representatives of the British Turkish Community" to "PM David Cameron": Right Hon. David Cameron MP Prime Minister 10 Downing Street London SW1A 2AA 16 June 2013 Dear Prime Minister, We, as representatives of the British-Turkish Community, urge you to publicly condemn the un-democratic practices of the Erdogan government in Turkey. We believe this will demonstrate your commitment to democracy and human rights; and reinforce the value you attach to sustainable Anglo-Turkish relations. The authoritarian actions of the AKP government and the police brutality against peaceful protesters have received extensive international condemnation. However, as a Prime Minister of a country renowned as the mother of parliamentary democracy, we find your statements in favour of the increasingly dictatorial regime of the Erdogan government disappointing and ill informed. We would like to highlight that under the AKP regime, freedom of expression and independence of the judiciary, the universities, public and non-government organisations have been dismantled. Hundreds of opposition journalists, scientists, academics, lawyers, students, military personnel as well as eight democratically elected members of the Turkish Parliament have been kept in jail for years through the abuse of anti-terrorism laws. Recent protests in all parts of Turkey and throughout the world have shown that the Turkish people will not tolerate oppression and are united in defending the secular and democratic Republic of Turkey, founded by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk ninety years ago. We therefore urge you to recognise, as the rest of the world, the true face of the Erdogan government and take the necessary steps to prevent alienating the British-Turkish community and undermining British-Turkish relations. We greatly appreciate living in a democratic society in Britain and appeal for your support in our campaign to restore human rights and democracy in Turkey. We look forward to your response. Yours sincerely, Representatives of the British Turkish Community
Posted on: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:59:45 +0000
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