HC Deb 16 December 1998 vol 322 cc599-600W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Turkish Government on the imprisonment of(a) Mrs. Leyla Zana and (b) other members of the Turkish Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [64121]

Ms Quin

We have raised the imprisonment of Ms Zana and the other former Democracy (DEP) Party MPs with the Turkish authorities on a number of occasions. We have repeatedly stressed to the Turkish government that the prosecution of democratically elected politicians for the non-violent expression of their views is wrong, and damages Turkey's international standing.

I also refer my hon. Friend to the reply given in another place by my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 3 December 1998, Official Report, House of Lords, columns 596–98.