Member of Parliament and vice-chair of the Left Alliance Jussi Saramo has submitted a written question to the Government of Finland regarding political prisoners, journalists and human rights defenders’ rights in Turkey and Azerbaijan. In his question, Saramo asks what kind of actions the Government is undertaking in response to violations of the European Convention on Human Rights by Turkey and Azerbaijan.
– In Turkey, journalists may be arbitrarily detained for months and even years awaiting trial. Politically motivated arrests amount to false imprisonment and limit the journalists’ freedom of expression and speech. In addition, persons belonging to COVID-19 risk groups are in mortal danger under prison conditions, Saramo says.
Turkey imprisons 95 journalists, which is more than in any other Council of Europe member state. In Azerbaijan, there are currently ten imprisoned journalists. Many were detained on trumped-up charges after they had published content on their government’s actions in relation to the coronavirus.
Saramo notes that both Turkey and Azerbaijan are parties to the European Convention on Human Rights. Both states have recently been found to be in violations of the convention by the European Court of Human Rights.
– Finland is also responsible for doing its share to protect human rights. Finland needs to pressure Turkey and Azerbaijan on the issue of political prisoners both in its bilateral relations and on international fora.