A Turkish parliamentary delegation appeared before the European Parliament's Human Rights Sub-committee in Brussels to present Türkiye's recent legal reforms, as the country continues accession negotiations with the EU.
Mehmet Elkatmis, chair of Türkiye's Parliamentary Commission on Human Rights, told the sub-committee that Türkiye has made significant advances in democracy and human rights. He noted that the death penalty has been abolished even in wartime, and that Türkiye has signed all relevant United Nations human rights treaties.
On the question of torture, Elkatmis said stiff penalties in the revised Turkish Penal Code serve as a strong deterrent, and that the number of torture-related cases reaching the European Court of Human Rights has been declining.
Elkatmis acknowledged gaps in enforcement, saying Türkiye needs additional time to achieve full compliance, though he did not expect the process to be lengthy. He added that the Parliamentary Human Rights Commission reviews complaints and pursues legal action when violations are identified.
Among upcoming measures, Elkatmis said Türkiye plans to establish an ombudsman office and to revise laws to allow for conscientious objection to mandatory military service. The sub-committee was chaired by French MEP Helene Flautre of the Greens group.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in March 2006, in its own words.