"Turkey also seeks to silence the opposition abroad. Pro-government Turkish media targeted four Swedish MPs of Turkish origin last year. We are worried that they were attacked because they criticized the violations of rights in Turkey," says MP Österberg.
Anders Österberg, MP for the Social Democratic Workers' Party, partner of the government in Sweden, slammed the crackdown of the Immigration Bureau and Security Police on the Kurds.
In a written parliamentary question Anders Österberg asked the Immigration and Justice Minister Morgan Johansson what measures he considered taking to prevent the deportation of political activists and ordinary people from the country. The deputy said, “In recent months, it has been reported in the media that the Immigration Office sought to deport a mother of two children who holds Belgian citizenship and is married to a Swedish citizen. The decision for her deportation is based on the opinions of the Swedish Security Police (Säpo). However, no evidence was presented.”
NEWS IN TURKISH MEDIA
Österberg pointed to the news in the Turkish media that Sweden made a deal with Turkey to deport "Kurdish terrorists" recalling that Turkey has recently cracked down on pro-Kurdish the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) across the country.
AUTHORITARIAN TENDENCIES IN TURKEY
ANF agency interviewed Österberg about Sweden's attitude towards the Kurds and human rights defenders. Speaking about the Turkish government’s attempt to lift political immunity of HDP MPs, Österberg said, "The HDP is our sister party. We consider this attempt as a terrible development. The Turkish government seeks to eliminate the opposition completely. Turkey also seeks to silence the opposition abroad. Pro-government Turkish media targeted four Swedish MPs of Turkish origin last year. We are worried that they were attacked because they criticized the violations of rights in Turkey."
"Turkish opposition is subjected to a continuous and systematic crackdown. We argue that a clear stand should be taken against this. We ask the Swedish Government to oppose the lifting of parliamentary immunity of the HDP MPs. We support the elected representatives of the people", Österberg continued.
The Swedish MP added that the parliamentary question is expected to be answered by the Minister of Immigration and Justice within the first half of this month.
