The Nordic LEFT MEPs Jonas Sjöstedt(SE), Li Andersson (FI), and Per Clausen (DK) demand that the European Commission updates its Türkiye policy in light of recent attacks on democracy. President Erdogan’s arrests of politicians, demonstrators and journalists must meet a firm response, in the form of targeted sanctions and an offer of political asylum to those at risk of political persecution.

− By now, we should know that ignoring authoritarianism in all its many forms only strengthen it. More than ever, we need the EU and its member states to speak up for democracy and basic freedoms on the global level, says Per Clausen, MEP for Denmarks Red-Green Alliance.

The arrest of the Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, sparked nationwide protests, and President Recep Tayip Erdogan has responded with police crackdowns and mass arrests of demonstrators and journalists.

− Erdogan is yet again using violent crackdowns and arrests to stamp down on his political opposition. The EU must publicly offer political asylum to those journalists, activists, politicians and civil society members in Türkiye that are at risk of political persecution. Erdogan’s actions are in blatant violation of human rights, says Jonas Sjöstedt, MEP from the Swedish Left Party.

Furthermore, the Nordic LEFT MEPs want the EU commission to set up a plan for targeted sanctions.

− The EU should use targeted sanctions and travel bans against those from the Erdogan-government who are responsible for the arrests and suppression of democratic rights. We use this tool against other autocratic regimes, and should do the same with Türkiye, says Li Andersson, MEP from the Finnish Left Alliance.

The worrying trajectory of Turkish democracy is one of the topics at the 19th International Conference – The European Union, Turkey, the Middle East and the Kurds, arranged by the LEFT. The Nordic LEFT MEPs suggest that the EU’s response to the latest attack on democratic rights by the Erdogan-regime consist of three main points:

1. Use targeted sanctions and travel restrictions against those involved from the Turkish authorities.

2. Identify which payments and access to EU-programs can be frozen, until Türkiye returns to the path of democracy.

3. Offer political asylum to those journalists, activists, politicians and civil society members in Türkiye that are at risk of political persecution.