Top Health Organizations' Hard Words to Erdoğan
Members of the Physicians for Human Rights committee who went to investigate the anti-government protests in Turkey have determined that the government used excessive force against protesters. As a result of this, other prominent health organisations from across the world have together prepared an open letter to the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan and have called for the violence to be stopped.
In the letter penned by Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), the World Medical Association (WMA), the German Medical Association (GMA) and the Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME), doctors strongly criticised the human rights violations in Turkey, and made the following demands to the Prime Minister:
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End policies of contempt and criminalisation of basic rights and freedom, including peaceful assembly and freedom of speech.
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Immediately end all use of tear gas in Turkey.
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Prohibit all forms of violence against peaceful protestors and respect United Nations standards for the use of force.
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Immediately release those who are simply exercising their right to peaceful protests.
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Prohibit all attacks on medical personnel who provide emergency assistance to injured protesters
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Repeal the recent Ministry of Health Circular requiring medical personnel to report the names of injured protesters to authorities
- Support the independence of the Turkish Medical Association and the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey for their critical contributions to the health and human rights of Turkish citizens.
Click here to see the original letter in full.