Washington is concerned over Turkey’s human rights situation, amid a series of recent cases in which senior elected officials have opened cases against citizens upon alleged "insults.", Hurriyet Daily reports.
"We are very concerned about this. People have been prosecuted for speaking their mind. In a democratic country that respects freedom of expression, people should not be prosecuted for expressing their views on the government of the day or public officials," said Thomas O. Melia, the deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.
In addition Thomas O. Melia noted that the U.S. is "uneasy" about a number of measures included in the controversial AKP-led national security package; the one which is currently being debated at parliament.
"We share the concern with many others that this may lead to some overzealous prosecution of things that might otherwise not be prosecuted. It will give the police additional authorities that may involve strong police measures against peaceful protestors, as well as additional or unlimited detention for peaceful protestors in some circumstances," Melia noted.