IPU concerned about vulnerability of detained MPs during pandemic

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.
In 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.
In 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.
Dansk Interparlamentarisk Gruppes bestyrelse 2019-20
IPU Alm.del - Bilag 16
Offentligt
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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.
In 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.
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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:
press@ipu.org or tf@ipu.org or tel: +41(0) 79 854 31 53