Erdogan's oppression continues despite reform plan

President Tayyip Erdogan’s government plans to shut down the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP).

Erdogan’s nationalist MHP allies accused the HDP of links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), accusations that escalated after Ankara said Turkish captives were killed by the PKK in Iraq last month.

The HDP denies the accusation. The third largest party in parliament, it has also faced a barrage of legal bids to lift the parliamentary immunity of its lawmakers.

Erdogan's government has faced criticism from rights groups and Western allies over backsliding in democratic freedoms. The crackdown on the HDP has included arrests of thousands of party officials and members, while dozens of its elected mayors and lawmakers have been ousted.

From his part, Erdogan unveiled a long-awaited action plan he has trailed heavily since Biden’s election win last November, which he says is aimed at improving human and civil rights in Turkey.

But Erdogan’s critics say the action plan sits oddly with his government’s quashing of dissent, as Turkey jails more journalists than any other country in the world. 

The imprisoning of the Turkish leader’s political opponents, as well as a rolling crackdown on dissident groups became more expansive after a 2016 coup attempt failed to topple the Turkish dictator.