News / Turkey

UN expert due in Turkey to investigate torture allegations

Thursday, 24 November 2016 6:30 PM [ Last Update: Thursday, 24 November 2016 7:04 PM ]

Nils Melzer, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (File Photo)

A UN legal expert is set to visit Turkey to investigate torture allegations in the country, which has been under fire for its heavy-handed crackdown on opposition following an abortive military coup.

Independent UN special rapporteur on torture, Nils Melzer, is due in Turkey from November 27 to December 2. He will visit police stations, prisons and pre-trial detention centers in the country.

The UN expert is reportedly visiting the country at the invitation of the Turkish government.

“I look forward to engaging with the Turkish Government on how to meet the challenges of upholding the rule of law, promoting accountability, and fulfilling the right of reparations for victims,” Melzer said in a statement carried by media on Thursday.

The invitation follows a widespread purge in Turkey after a failed coup in July.

Ankara has sacked or suspended more than 125,000 civil servants in the aftermath of the attempted coup. About 36,000 people have been jailed, pending trial.

Those purged include military staff, university faculty, judges, journalists and political leaders with links to opposition figures or groups.

Rights groups, international bodies and world countries have condemned the crackdown as an effort to crush all opposition and silence dissent.

The European Parliament on Thursday voted to freeze membership talks with Turkey over Ankara’s post-coup crackdown.

The EU lawmakers strongly condemned the disproportionate repressive measures taken in Turkey since the failed military coup in mid-July.

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