UK PM May warns Turkey's Erdogan not to lose sight of democratic values
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LONDON - Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday warned Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan not to go too far in his crackdown on those believed to be behind a failed 2016 coup attempt, speaking after a meeting in London marked by human rights protests.
Rights campaigners have accused May of turning a blind eye to human rights abuses in pursuit of trade deals after Brexit. In Turkey's case they point to the jailing tens of thousands of people after the attempted coup. Erdogan's government has said its actions are necessary to combat the threat it faces.
May said Britain's relationship with Turkey was indispensable, praising the impact of security cooperation and the prospect of close post-Brexit trade ties.
But she added a diplomatic warning on the need for restraint.
"It is right that those who sought to overthrow the democratically elected government are brought to justice," May said, speaking alongside Erdogan in her Downing Street office following their meeting.
"But it is also important that in the defence of democracy, which has been facing extraordinary pressures from the failed coup, instability across the border from Syria and from Kurdish terrorism, Turkey does not lose sight of the values it is seeking to defend."
