Real democratisation in Turkey still a long way off

Last weekend a referendum took place in Turkey over the reform of 26 articles of the Turkish constitution. This is part of Ankara's aim of placing Turkey on a more European path.

N-VA and EFA MEP Frieda Brepoels has described the referendum as a missed opportunity.

Brepoels said:

"The constitutional reform does little for diversity in the country. The referendum brings a solution for the Kurdish question no closer. Only through recognition of the rights of Kurdish people can Turkey properly move towards fundamental democratisation."

For these reasons many Kurdish leaders recommended a boycott of the referendum, feeling that the constitutional reform offered little by way of solutions to problems which the Kurdish minority have faced for many years. Countless court cases, thousands of Kurdish children imprisoned and a ban on education in their own language. Brepoels believes that the result of the referendum should be taken with a pinch of salt given the call for a Kurdish boycott which was massively supported.

Brepoels added:

"Even after this referendum, the Turkish constitution still talks of one state, one nation, one language, one flag. This makes it clear that the Turkish elite do not recognise the diversity that exists within the country and do not want to work for a political solution to the Kurdish issue. As long as Ankara fails to recognise this problem, the Kurdish oppression in Turkey will continue unabated, albeit accompanied by a few cosmetic constitutional reforms. The successful referendum boycott in the Kurdish areas has at least let their voice be heard."

Frieda Brepoels has called for EU member states to take a more critical approach to the issue, citing several recent failures to fully pursue human rights questions with the Turkish regime.