June 25, 2018 – Sunday’s elections in Turkey were a travesty for democracy, yet they should not be considered surprising. Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s “victory” is just the latest and most worrying example of how deeply he has captured the Turkish state through his control of the media, judiciary, and other governmental and nongovernmental institutions. Far from free or fair, these elections mean that Erdogan has cemented his power despite a real opposition that would have won on a level playing field. Indeed, in addition to his inherent advantages before a single ballot was cast, evidence is emerging that there were significant irregularities and fraud in the voting procedures, including ballot-box stuffing.
We remain deeply concerned for the tens of thousands of innocent people who have been jailed, detained or sacked in the aftermath of the failed coup attempt almost two years ago. With Erdogan the head of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government, there are no balances to his power. We call upon the international community to continue to pressure the Turkish government over these injustices and to refrain from rewarding Erdogan for his illegitimate victory.
About Alliance for Shared Values
The Alliance for Shared Values (AFSV) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves as a voice for cultural organizations affiliated with Hizmet, a civil society movement inspired by prominent preacher and peace advocate Fethullah Gülen. The Alliance strives to promote peace and social harmony by helping reduce misinformation and false stereotypes about any or all ethnic, cultural and religious communities. To learn more about the Alliance, please visit www.afsv.org.
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from Alliance for Shared Values http://afsv.org/alliance-for-shared-values-statement-on-turkish-elections/
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