Statement by the Tánaiste on the release of Chair of Amnesty International Turkey
Press release
15 August 2018Following the decision taken by the Turkish courts to release Mr Taner Kılıç, Chair of Amnesty International Turkey, on bail, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney T. D., stated:
"I welcome the decision taken by the Turkish courts to release Taner Kılıç, the Chair of Amnesty International Turkey, who had been held in detention since June of last year. I have expressed my concerns on a number of occasions regarding this particular case, as well as in regards to the arrest and continued detention of other human-rights defenders, journalists and political activists since the attempted coup in July 2016.
"I once again call on the Turkish Government to respect the role that civil society and NGOs play in strong and stable democratic societies, and to ensure that full due process is respected in the judicial system, with each detainee having the right to a fair trial."
ENDS
Press Office
16 August 2018
Note for Editors
Mr Taner Kılıç, the Chair of Amnesty International Turkey, was first detained along with 22 lawyers in Izmir, Turkey on 7 June 2017. Mr Kılıç was held for 432 days on charges relating to membership of the Gülenist movement, which the Turkish Government classifies as a terrorist organisation.
