(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – Following is the full text of a 29 January 1998 letter sent by ARTICLE 19 to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. The letter expresses concern at a new law under consideration in Turkey which would curb freedom of religious expression. “ARTICLE 19 is extremely concerned about reports that a […]
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – Following is the full text of a 29 January 1998 letter
sent by ARTICLE 19 to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. The
letter expresses concern at a new law under consideration in Turkey which
would curb freedom of religious expression.
“ARTICLE 19 is extremely concerned about reports that a new law under the
Criminal Code under active consideration in Turkey would reinstate
legislation curbing freedom of religious expression, thereby contravening
Articles 9 and 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, to which
Turkey is a party.
“It has been suggested that the new law would be along the lines of the
discredited Article 163 of the Turkish Criminal Code, abolished in 1991,
which placed unacceptable limitations on freedom of expression.
“As you will know, recently millions of Turkish citizens have, effectively,
been disenfranchised by the Turkish Constitutional Court’s judgement
outlawing the Welfare Party and banning its democratically elected
representatives from holding office for the next five years. We believe that
this judgement, if appealed, will be found by the European Court directly to
contravene the European Convention on Human Rights .
“We urge the Council of Europe to make clear to the Turkish authorities at
the highest level that the introduction of new legislation that would
undoubtedly breach the human rights guarantees in the European Convention is
unacceptable.
“I hope that you will take action as soon as possible on this important matter.”
Similar appeals should be sent to:
Appeals To
Dr Daniel Tarschys
Secretary General
Council of Europe
Palais de l’Europe
F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex, France
Fax: +33 3 88 41 2781
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
