Written question asked by Lord Patten (Conservative) on Tuesday, 15 November 2016, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 29 November 2016. It was answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative) on Tuesday, 29 November 2016 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Turkey: Political Prisoners

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Turkey concerning the arrest and detention of Turkish MPs, including the co-chairs of the opposition HDP party.

Answer: We continue to follow developments in Turkey closely and underline the importance of the rule of law and the protection of freedom of expression. The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson) raised these issues during his visit to Turkey on 25-27 September, as has the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Sir Alan Duncan) with Turkey’s Minister for Europe, Omer Celik, most recently in a telephone call on 7 November.

Secondary information