London Assembly member for east London Unmesh Desai is visiting Turkey next week as part of a UK delegation of MPs and MEPs watching the trials of Turkish opposition MPs.
Selahattin Demirta and Figen Yüksekda, co-leaders of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish HDP party, were arrested last year because of their reluctance to give evidence over “terrorist propaganda.”
Because of a wider crackdown on dissenting journalists and politicians, this sparked alarm among the international community.
The delegation hope by attending the profile of the trial will be boosted, encouraging Turkish officials to act responsibly.
Mr Desai said: “The antigovernment coup has seen hundreds of civilians from all parts of Turkish society arrested and charged and now facing what many call showcase trials.
“The international community needs to be alarmed and vigilant about these trials.”
Other politicians attending are Labour’s Liverpool Walton MP Dan Carden, Labour’s Edmondton MP Kate Osamor, Labour’s Lord David Watts and Sinn Fein’s Belfast West MP Paul Maskey.
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