EU alarmed over detention of HDP lawmakers

The European Union has warned Turkey to respect democratic norms in the fight against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), while EU member state ambassadors to Ankara discussed possible outcomes of a further deterioration of ties between Brussels and Turkey over the detention of several Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) deputies.

The HDP's co-chairs are democratically elected leaders and the EU's "trusted and valued interlocutors," EU High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini and Commissioner Johannes Hahn said in a written statement.

"These developments add to the concerns we expressed after the immunity of more than 130 democratically elected Members of Parliament was lifted in May this year. They compromise parliamentary democracy in Turkey and exacerbate the already very tense situation in the South East of the country, for which there can only be a political solution," said the EU. 

The EU understands actions taken against the PKK, but it also believes that such actions must never undermine the basic principles of democracy, the statement also read.

"We expect Turkey to safeguard its parliamentary democracy, including respect for human rights and the rule of law, and we are conveying these expectations directly to the Turkish authorities. Together with the Council of Europe, the EU will continue to follow and assess the situation very closely, in constant coordination with all Member States," the statement added.

"Today's detentions send a chilling signal about the state of political pluralism in Turkey," European Parliament President Martin Schulz said. 

"With this last high profile string of detentions - a continuation of the crackdown on other HDP elected representatives - Turkish...