EU tells Turkey force against demonstrators has no place in a democracy

Excessive police force against demonstrators “has no place” in a democracy, European Union Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule told Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday, urging a probe into a week of violent unrest in Turkey, a longtime EU hopeful.

“Peaceful demonstrations constitute a legitimate way for these groups to express their views in a democratic society. Excessive use of force by police against these demonstrations has no place in such a democracy,” Fule said at a conference in Istanbul, calling for those responsible to be held to account.