Speaker of the European Parliament: We need sanctions against Turkey

The European Union must impose economic sanctions against Turkey in connection with the arrests of opposition politicians and journalists. This was in an interview with Bild Am Sonntag by the speaker of the European Parliament Martin Schulz.

By the end of this year, the politician recalled, the reform of the Customs Union of the EU, with which Türkiye has a bilateral agreement should be held. “I can’t imagine that after a wave of arrests of deputies from the opposition and journalists, we will expand the Customs Union,” said the speaker of the European Parliament.

Schulz also assured that he was advocating for the continuation of dialogue with Turkey regarding this country's entry into the EU. However, he emphasized, "if Türkiye returns the death penalty, negotiations on entry will end."

On November 4 , 12 deputies of the Milli Majlis from the Democratic Party of Peoples, which protect the rights of national minorities of the country, including Kurdish, were detained in Turkey. The eight detainees, including the leaders of the Selahattin Party Demirtash and Figen Yuksekdag, were arrested. Deputies are charged with relations with the Kurdistan working party, which is recognized in the country with a terrorist organization.

The next day, it became known about the arrest of the Cumhuriyet opposition newspaper detained on October 31, including the chief editor of Murat Sabongju. He was charged with supporting the preacher of Fethullah Gulen living in the United States, whom the authorities call the organizer of the failed coup on July 15-16, and the Kurdistan Workers Party.

After the suppression of the coup in Turkey, mass repressions began. At the end of October, the Minister of Justice of the country Bekir Bozdag stated that about 35 thousand people were arrested on suspicions with Gulen.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan seeks the return of the death penalty in the country for reprisals with the coup participants.