Responding to news that the UK Prime Minister is in Türkiye to finalise a deal to sell 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets to the country, Polly Truscott, Amnesty International UK’s Foreign Affairs Director, said:

“As the Prime Minister meets with President Erdogan today regarding a fighter jet deal, we implore him to carefully consider the human rights records of countries like Türkiye the UK does business with.

“While negotiations on this multi-billion-pound sale take place, a massive crackdown on human rights is taking place in the country.

“Just this week, a major independent TV channel has been taken over by the state and its editor-in-chief arrested on ‘espionage’ charges. The main opposition party is facing relentless attacks: its presidential candidate and Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu and his Campaign Director, have also been remanded on ‘espionage’ charges.

“In addition to this, the rights of LGBTI people and those defending their rights in Türkiye are under unprecedented threat after a leaked document exposed proposed legal changes that would criminalise them for the first time in Türkiye’s history.

“Amnesty International UK urges Keir Starmer to use this opportunity to question the disturbing state of human rights in Türkiye – and to ensure UK business dealings don’t exacerbate or provide diplomatic cover for human rights abuses.”