§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider that the sentence of life imprisonment, recently imposed in Turkey on Mr. Esber Yagmurdereli, a known campaigner for peace, constitutes a set-back for human rights in that country. [HL2839]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanWe share the widespread international concern at the plight of Mr. Yagmurdereli, who was re-imprisoned in June this year to serve various sentences including that of 23 years' imprisonment following his conviction for promoting separatism. As EU Presidency we raised his re-imprisonment with the Turkish authorities and urged Mr. Yagmurdereli's release. We shall continue to take every opportunity to remind the Turkish authorities of our concerns, and to point out that their actions sit ill with Turkey's commitments to uphold freedom of expression.