UN chief concerned at Turkey’s restrictions on human rights

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is expressing concern at the Turkish government’s restrictions on individual rights under the state of emergency imposed after a failed July 15 coup and “worrying reports” of mistreatment of some military detainees.

U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Ban told Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in a phone call Wednesday that he expects the government to uphold its international human rights obligations including freedom of expression, movement and peaceful assembly as well as independence of the judiciary and legal profession.

Turkey has detained more than 13,000 people in the military, judiciary and other institutions in purges since the uprising and suspended tens of thousands of other state employees.

Haq said Ban hopes Turkey “will transform this moment of uncertainty into a moment of unity” that preserves democracy.