Merkel to Watch Turkey Closely After Vote to Strip Lawmakers of Immunity

© AP Photo / Joerg SarbachGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel meets with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel meets with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. - Sputnik International
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday she was concerned about Turkey's decision to strip a hundred lawmakers of parliamentary immunity, saying she would monitor the developments closely.

Associated Press reporter Matt Lee reminded State Department Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner of the department’s sharp and immediate condemnation of an Israeli shelling, which accidentally struck a school in Gaza last year. - Sputnik International
Turkish Law Lifting Lawmakers’ Immunity to Have ‘Chilling Effect’ on Speech
BERLIN (Sputnik) — The bill was passed by the Turkish parliament on Friday. Pro-Kurdish members of the parliament say it specifically targets them for their political views.

"The lifting of immunity of a fourth of the Turkish lawmakers gives grounds for serious concern," Merkel told reporters after meeting Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The chancellor said she had raised the issue during her meeting with Erdogan in Istanbul but not all of the aspects of the problem had been addressed.

"I can sum it up by saying that these issues remain on the table, and we need to keep an eye on further developments," Merkel said.

Concerns about the controversial amendment to Turkey’s constitution were raised by senior EU officials, including EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.

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