Atalay says Turkey takes important steps to end human rights violations

Speaking at the opening of the 38th Congress of the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay recited the recent efforts of Turkish government to eradicate human rights violations by giving examples of Mevlana, Yunus Emre and Sheikh Edebali, Anatolia's influential humanitarian figures. Stating that Turkey has experienced a process which could be defined as a silent revolution in democratizing and human rights, Atalay highlighted that Turkey has taken important steps towards eradicating human rights violations. Atalay said that Turkish government has successfully implemented the policy of zero-tolerance for torture, saying, "We enhanced suspect and defendant rights and custody conditions. We based our solutions for all problems, including terror, on more democracy, freedom and pluralism. We have lifted the legal barriers on free expression of non-violent and non-threatening thoughts. We have made great efforts to normalize Turkey."