Council of Europe calls for Enes’ release

“Targeting a youth delegate is utterly unacceptable”

Marc Cools, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, condemned the arrest of Council of Europe youth delegate and LGBTI+ activist Enes Hocaoğulları.

In his statement, Cools said:

“The arrest and prosecution of a youth delegate over remarks made during a plenary session of the Congress is a blatant disregard for the fundamental right to freedom of expression. This right is one of the cornerstones of European democracy and is protected by the European Convention on Human Rights, which Turkey has committed to uphold as a member of the Council of Europe.

This situation also constitutes a direct and unacceptable act of retaliation against someone who participated legitimately in the Council of Europe’s work.”

Calling for Hocaoğulları’s immediate release, Cools added:

“The Congress has previously expressed serious concerns about the state of democracy in Turkey, and called for an end to the prosecution and detention of elected representatives from opposition parties.

Now, the targeting of a youth delegate for legitimately expressing views as part of a pluralistic public debate is scandalous and utterly unacceptable. I urge the Turkish authorities to drop all charges against Enes Hocaoğulları and to release him without delay.”

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