EU urged to raise growing human rights concerns in planned talks with Turkey

Activists have called for the European Union to use a meeting with the Turkish foreign minister to urge the release of human rights workers detained as part of Turkey’s crackdown following last year’s failed coup.

Activists have called for the European Union to use a meeting with the Turkish foreign minister to urge the release of human rights workers detained as part of Turkey’s crackdown following last year’s failed coup.

The issue was raised during a noisy protest in Brussels ahead of the talks, amid growing concern that Turkey is sliding away from EU values as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan tightens his grip on power and cracks down on perceived opponents.