Sanction twelve Turkish officials
Petitioners ask the House of Commons to monitor Turkey’s human rights, sanction twelve Turkish officials for violations against eight Canadians, and press Turkey, Pakistan and Bahrain to end abuses. The government responds it applies sanctions.
Why we would sign this petition
- It seeks targeted accountability by sanctioning twelve named officials tied to violations affecting eight Canadians, offering a path to recognition and redress for victims and families.
- Monitoring plus diplomatic pressure could deter further abuses and raise international attention to ongoing human-rights concerns.
- It aligns with Canada’s human-rights foreign-policy role and responds to families who reported arrests and requested sanctions.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Sanctions risk diplomatic fallout and could harm bilateral relations or cooperation with Turkey and others, complicating broader foreign-policy objectives.
- Establishing individual culpability for specific officials may require more evidence; the government emphasizes rigorous due diligence before imposing sanctions.
- Sanctions alone may be ineffective without coordinated multilateral action and could divert effort from diplomacy, legal avenues or other remedies.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following: Whereas: Turkish, Pakistani, and Bahraini officials have committed gross violations of human rights against thousands of Turks including eight current Turkish-Canadians; Turkish officials are responsible for causing hundreds of deaths including the torturous murder of Gokhan Acikkollu; Turkish officials have wrongfully detained over 300,000 peoples including prosecutors and judges with no reasons given; and Several International Human Rights groups have confirmed gross human rights violations are happening in Turkey. Therefore we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to: 1) Closely monitor the human rights situation in Turkey; 2) Place sanctions on the twelve Turkish officials who are responsible for gross human rights violations against eight current Canadians and the death of their friend Gokhan Acikkollu; and 3) Call on the Turkish, Pakistani, and Bahraini governments to end all violations of human rights happening in their countries.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Rob Oliphant The promotion and protection of human rights is an integral part of Canada’s foreign policy and international engagement. Canada is strongly committed to working with governments, as well as multilateral and non-governmental organizations, to promote inclusive and accountable governance around the world. Canada is consistently a strong voice for the protection of human rights and the advancement of democratic values. Canada’s leadership in the fight against arbitrary detention demonstrates its steadfast commitment to upholding universal human rights and the rules-based international order. The Government of Canada maintains an active and open dialogue with the Turkish, Pakistani and Bahraini governments concerning human rights, as part of Canada’s commitment to promote democracy and uphold human rights and the rule of law globally. Global Affairs Canada officials met with the Turkish families that reported of their arrest in Pakistan and Bahrain and eventual detention in Türkiye, before moving to Canada. Global Affairs Canada officials have also received a submission from these families, requesting sanctions against specific Turkish officials in relation to their previous detention in Türkiye. Canada is judicious when it chooses to deploy sanctions and is committed to their effective and coordinated use, when appropriate. Canada remains committed to playing a leadership role in the preservation and strengthening of an international rules-based order – sanctions are a key component of this approach. We also consider the broader political and international contexts when deciding whether sanctions or any other tools in Canada’s foreign policy toolbox may be an appropriate response. Sanctions are an important complement to Canada’s foreign policy tools for maintaining and restoring international peace and security, combatting corruption, and promoting respect for norms and values, including human rights. Canada carefully considers the bilateral consequences that any sanction measures could have. To that end, Global Affairs Canada has established a rigorous due diligence process to consider and evaluate possible cases of human rights violations, corruption or other circumstances that may warrant the use of sanctions. Wherever possible, Canada coordinates closely with likeminded allies, including the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States, to maximize the effectiveness of sanctions.