WRITTEN QUESTION P-0091/96 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Council (24 January 1996)

Subject: The killing of the journalist Metin Goktepe by the Turkish police

On 8 January 1996 Metin Goktepe, a 27-year-old journalist working for the daily paper Eurensel, was savagely murdered by the Turkish police. Despite the fact that the death certificate, signed by four doctors, stated that death was caused by bludgeoning, especially to the head, and despite testimony by those detained at the same time as Metin Goktepe that he was murdered before their very eyes, the public prosecutor and the district authorities, in an attempt to cover up the crime committed by the Turkish police, decided that although he was indeed taken into custody by the police he was released in the afternoon.

Given that incidents of this kind are all too common, and in view of the ratification of the Customs Union, what representations does the Council intend to make to the Turkish authorities to put an end to the ruthless persecution, detentions and killings of those journalists opposed to the government and ensure just sentences for those found guilty?

Reply (13 June 1996)

When welcoming the assent given by the European Parliament on 13 December 1995 to implementation of the final phase of the Customs Union, the Council urged Turkey to make further progress towards democracy. The European Council in Madrid reaffirmed that position recalling the importance it attached to respect for human rights, the rule of law and fundamental freedoms and strongly supported all those in Turkey endeavouring to put reforms into practice. In that spirit, it welcomed the measures already adopted by the Turkish authorities and urged them to continue along that path.

The Council noted that, having given its assent, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the human rights situation in Turkey, which, inter alia, calls on the Commission and the Council to monitor permanently human rights and democratic development in Turkey and requested the Commission to present a report on the situation to the European Parliament at least once a year.

The Council regrets the death of the Turkish journalist Metin Göktepe and stresses that freedom of expression is a universal fundamental right. Two independent commissions of enquiry have been set up in Turkey, one by the courts, the other by the Ministry of the Interior, in order to determine the circumstances surrounding the violent death of the journalist Metin Göktepe. Several policemen have been arrested in connection with his death. On 8 February 1996, the provincial council of Istanbul, the administrative body responsible for authorizing the prosecution of officials, opened the way for criminal proceedings to be initiated against the police officers suspected of having killed Metin Göktepe.

The Council attaches greatest importance to respect for human rights and democracy in Turkey and does not hesitate to condemn violations of them in its contacts with the Turkish authorities. The Council has also made clear, and will continue to do so, that observance of the rule of law and of fundamental freedoms is the basis for the rapprochement of Turkey to the EU. The Council will continue to monitor closely the human rights situation and democratic development in Turkey.