Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, which are drafted every year by
the US Department of State for more than 190 countries and submitted to the
US Congress, were published on 11 March 2020. “Turkey 2019 Human Rights
Report” which is prepared in this context, is far from being objective, is
politically motivated and contains unfounded accusations based on ambiguous
sources.
By referring as the “Gülen movement” to Fetullahist Terrorist Organization
(FETÖ), which is the perpetrator of the 15 July coup attempt and an
existential threat to our country, the report tries to portray FETÖ as an
innocent civilian organization. This approach, which reveals that the US
still fails to understand our rightful fight against this terrorist
organization, amounts to disregarding the most fundamental right - the
right to life - of hundreds of our citizens martyred by FETÖ. The fact that
all the evidence presented regarding this terrorist organization were
disregarded in this year’s report shows that it is once again drafted on
the basis of the allegations of certain hostile circles against Turkey.
Allegations in the report regarding the targeting of civilians and civilian
infrastructure during the Operation Peace Spring are far from reality.
There can be no explanation for including such allegations that have not
been confirmed by independent, reputable sources and are clearly for
propaganda. Those who have razed Syrian cities to the ground in the name of
fighting against DAESH have no lesson to give to Turkey, which has given
utmost care to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure in its
counter-terrorism operations in Syria and carried out exemplary
stabilization efforts in its operation areas. Even the Global Coalition
against DEASH itself admits killing 1370 civilians in its air strikes until
the end of 2019.
Information about and responses to many allegations in the report could be
found in the National Report of Turkey published in October 2019 as part of
Turkey’s third Universal Periodic Review (UPR). It is ironic that the most
comprehensive international human rights review mechanism, the UPR, and the
tangible information shared with the world by Turkey within the UPR process
were not even mentioned in the report.
Turkey has taken significant steps to protect and promote human rights and
the positive results of these steps are already seen in practice. The new
Judicial Reform Strategy and the first Legislative Package pursuant to the
Strategy as well as preparations for the Human Rights Action Plan are the
most concrete examples of Turkey’s sincerity in this regard.
Turkey will resolutely continue to pursue its reform agenda based on human
rights, democracy and the rule of law.