Statement from Council of Europe Secretary General Berset on Ekrem İmamoğlu

Berset said, "The right to peaceful protest must be guaranteed."

On April 13, the last day of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, which was held for the fourth time this year with the participation of world leaders, officials made significant statements one after another. While Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated, "We hosted over 6,000 guests from a total of 155 countries," European Council Secretary General Alain Berset shared his evaluations regarding Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was arrested last month. Fidan, in a statement to journalists on the last day of the diplomacy forum, said, "21 heads of state and government, 5 vice presidents, 2 speakers of parliament, 2 leaders of autonomous administrations, 64 ministers, senior representatives of 61 international organizations, as well as numerous representatives of think tanks, diplomats, scientists, and businesspeople participated in our forum." According to a report by Anadolu Agency (AA), Fidan commented on the Erdoğan-Trump meeting, saying, "Work is ongoing. Whether the meeting will take place in the U.S. or Turkey is still under discussion." "The right to peaceful protest must be guaranteed." Among the participants of the forum was European Council Secretary General Berset. Berset stated, "I am closely following recent events in Turkey, including the arrests and detainment of Ekrem İmamoğlu and other elected officials. These developments have triggered nationwide protests, detentions of journalists, and allegations of excessive use of force by law enforcement." "Without prejudice to pending legal proceedings, the rights protected under the European Convention on Human Rights - including freedom of expression and the media, the right to peaceful assembly, and the right to a fair trial - are fundamental pillars of democratic security and are legally binding obligations for all member states." Berset also added, "It is essential that these rights are respected both in law and in practice. This requires full compliance with the fundamental principles of the Convention system: the presumption of innocence, pre-trial detention being used only as an absolute last resort, and the protection of political expression." "The right to peaceful protest must also be fully guaranteed. Any allegations of excessive use of force by law enforcement should be addressed through independent and effective investigations that ensure full accountability, in accordance with the case law of the European Court of Human Rights." Berset, who stated that he would soon visit Ankara, expressed that during his visit he would reiterate "the importance of Turkey fulfilling its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights."