IPU, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Bilag 16: IPU concerned about vulnerability of detained MPs during pandemic

Dansk Interparlamentarisk Gruppes bestyrelse 2019-20
IPU Alm.del Bilag 16
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Press Release

IPU concerned about vulnerability of detained MPs

during pandemic

Geneva, 5 June 2020. For immediate release.

The IPU is increasingly concerned about parliamentarians in detention during the

COVID-19 pandemic due to greater risks of infection in overcrowded and confined

spaces. In its first virtual sitting, the IPU Committee on the Human Rights of

Parliamentarians paid particular attention to the 43 Members of Parliament (MPs)

currently in detention in the world, especially cases in Venezuela, Côte d'Ivoire and

Turkey. The IPU Committee calls for the release of the parliamentarians from those

three countries in light of concerns about greater vulnerability to the coronavirus in

prison and a lack of due process.

Venezuela,

the IPU is now monitoring the cases of 139 MPs in the National

Assembly from the coalition of Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) who oppose

Mr. Maduro’s Government. Since January 2016 the overwhelming majority of the

parliamentarians have been attacked, detained or intimidated by security forces or

government supporters because of their political opinions.

The IPU is particularly concerned about the continued detention of Mr. Juan

Requesens, the renewed arrests of Mr. Gilber Caro and Mr. Renzo Prieto, and the

recent arrests of Mr. Ismael León and Mr. Antonio Geara. Reports suggest that they

have been detained without regard for parliamentary immunity and due process with

little or no information provided by the authorities on their charges.

In the last few months, at least 17 MUD parliamentarians have gone into exile, sought

the protection of foreign embassies in Caracas or gone into hiding due to continued

harassment. Six have been barred from holding public office and at least 13 MPs have

had their passports confiscated or cancelled by the authorities.

At least 18 MPs were threatened through graffiti attacks on their homes between 28 and

30 March 2020. On 30 March 2020, opposition MP Ms. Delsa Solórzano received

death threats and intimidating messages via instant messaging. Ms. Solórzano has

been the target of harassment and threats for some time due to her political opinions

and her work as parliamentarian.

In a recent development, on 26 May 2020, the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme

Court approved Mr. Luis Parra as the President of the National Assembly after a

stand-off with Mr. Juan Guaidó, who also claims the role.

The IPU Committee is concerned that the Supreme Court ruling will interfere with the

rights of the democratically elected opposition MPs to fully exercise their parliamentary

mandate. The Committee underlines that all parliamentarians must be allowed to fulfil

their mission in an unhindered fashion and free from any pressure or reprisals.

Côte d’Ivoire,

the IPU is currently examining the cases of 10 opposition MPs who

have allegedly suffered violations of their fundamental rights since 2018, including

arbitrary arrest and detention.

IPU, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Bilag 16: IPU concerned about vulnerability of detained MPs during pandemic

Five members of the National Assembly are in detention in the country – Mr. Alain

Lobognon, Mr. Loukimane Camara, Mr. Kando Soumahoro, Mr. Yao Soumaïla and

Mr. Soro Kanigui. The five have been charged with causing public disorder,

challenging the authority of the State and spreading fake news. The IPU Committee

has concluded that there does not appear to be any material evidence proving their

guilt and that the charges are based solely on statements made during press

conferences.

The IPU is also deeply worried about Mr. Lobognon’s state of health in prison and the

alleged refusal of the prison authorities, on three consecutive occasions, to authorize a

visit by his personal doctor.

On 29 April, Mr. Guillaume Soro, former Speaker of the National Assembly and

presidential hopeful for 2020, was sentenced in absentia to 20 years in prison on

charges of misappropriation of public funds. He was also deprived of his political and

civil rights for five years, making it difficult for him to stand in the presidential elections

scheduled for October 2020 and suggesting that the case is politically motivated.

Turkey,

the IPU is examining alleged human rights violations against 57 current or

former parliamentarians, of whom 27 are women, from the People’s Democratic Party

(HDP). The alleged violations include lack of due process, violations of freedom of

expression, arbitrary detention and failure to respect parliamentary immunity.

Seven of the parliamentarians are currently still in prison, including the former HDP

co-chairs, Mr. Selahattin Demirtaş and Ms. Figen Yüksekdağ.

Over 600 criminal and terrorism charges have been brought against the

parliamentarians since 2015 and hundreds of trial proceedings are ongoing throughout

the country. The MPs are being tried on terrorism-related offences or charges of

defamation of the Government.

An IPU review in 2018 found that the Turkish courts were applying harsher restrictions

and punishments to the Members of Parliament because of their political views. The

review found that the interpretation of anti-terror laws by Turkish courts was arbitrary

and unforeseeable.

The Turkish authorities firmly deny the IPU findings and invoke the independence of the

judiciary, the need to respond to security and terrorism threats, and legislation adopted

under a state of emergency.

An IPU fact-finding mission to Turkey in June 2019, with which the Turkish authorities

cooperated fully, concluded that the HDP parliamentarians had been charged primarily

for making critical public statements, posting on social media, participating in political

rallies, and generally opposing the policies of the Government.

On 14 April 2020, the Turkish Parliament amended a law to lower the prison population

generally and – in response to COVID-19 – to temporarily release some detainees.

However, terrorism-related charges, which concern most of the HDP parliamentarians,

are excluded from these amendments.

In other cases, the IPU Committee is also monitoring closely the situation of 13

Palestinian MPs currently being held in Israeli prisons.

IPU, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Bilag 16: IPU concerned about vulnerability of detained MPs during pandemic

In addition, the IPU Committee is urging the Libyan authorities to do more to uncover the

reasons behind the disappearance of MP Ms. Seham Sergiwa, who was abducted in

July 2019.

In new cases, the IPU Committee also considered the disappearance of former Egyptian

MP Mr. Mostafa al-Nagar, as well as allegations of abduction and sexual violence

suffered by Zimbabwean MP Ms. Joana Mamombe.

The

IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians

is the only international

mechanism with a mandate to defend the human rights of persecuted

parliamentarians. Its work includes mobilizing the international parliamentary

community to support threatened MPs, lobbying closely national authorities, and

sending trial observers. The Committee is made up of 10 parliamentarians,

representing the major regions of the world, and elected by their peers for a mandate

of five years.

In its latest meeting, the Committee examined the cases of 210 MPs out of its current

caseload of 488 MPs from 40 countries who report human rights violations.

***

The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments. It was founded 130 years

ago as the first multilateral political organization in the world, encouraging cooperation

and dialogue between all nations. Today, the IPU comprises 179 national Member

Parliaments and 13 regional parliamentary bodies. It promotes democracy and helps

parliaments become stronger, younger, gender-balanced and more diverse. It also

defends the human rights of parliamentarians through a dedicated committee made up

of MPs from around the world. Twice a year, the IPU convenes over 1,500

parliamentary delegates and partners in a world assembly, bringing a parliamentary

dimension to global governance, including the work of the United Nations and the

implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

For more information about the IPU, contact Thomas Fitzsimons at e-mail:

[email protected]

or tel: +41(0) 79 854 31 53