During the session of the European Parliament, MEPs condemned the sentence against Bülent Mumay and called on the authorities in Turkey to drop charges against him and all arbitrarily detained media workers, political opponents, human rights defenders, civil servants, and academics.

“MEPs regret the complex web of laws that systematically silence and control journalists, and also condemn the new 'foreign agents regulation' set to be introduced by the end of 2024,” the European Parliament stated.

The Parliament called on the Turkish authorities to restore judicial independence, respect press freedom, and ensure compliance with international human rights commitments.

The European Parliament also called on China to immediately release Ilham Tohti, the 2019 Sakharov Prize laureate, and Gulshan Abbas, as well as all arbitrarily detained individuals in China.

“MEPs strongly condemn human rights violations against Uyghurs and the population in Tibet, Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China,” noted the European Parliament.

The resolution calls for the closure of all internment camps and condemns political abuses, intensive surveillance, forced labor, sterilization, birth prevention measures, and the destruction of Uyghur identity, which constitute crimes against humanity and pose a significant risk of genocide.

The Parliament also called on EU member states to adopt additional sanctions against high-ranking officials and entities involved in human rights violations in China, to address international repression of Chinese dissidents and Uyghurs, and to prosecute those responsible.

Finally, the European Parliament urged the Iraqi parliament to completely and immediately reject amendments to the Personal Status Law and warned of the consequences of the latest proposal, which violates Iraq's international commitments regarding fundamental women's rights.

“MEPs commend the women, including members of the Iraqi parliament, who condemned the reform, as well as NGOs, activists, and civil society members fighting to maintain one of the most progressive laws in the region,” the European Parliament stated, adding that the criminal code does not legally protect women and children who are victims of domestic violence in Iraq, and they lament the fact that the proposed changes in law, if passed, would lead to an even more radical application of Sharia law.

“The resolution calls on Iraq to adopt a national action plan to eliminate child marriages, criminalize marital rape, combat domestic violence, and strengthen the rights of women and girls, in line with the President’s Office,” the European Parliament reported.

MEPs called on the EU delegation in Iraq to condition development grants on training justice sector personnel in matters of sexual and gender-based violence, and the creation of shelters for women. They also demanded that member states increase support for defenders of women's and children's rights in Iraq.

Source of information: European Parliament