27 September 2023
Stockholm Center for Freedom
Welcome to “Turkey Human Rights Dispatch,” the Stockholm Center for Freedom’s (SCF) weekly newsletter. Every Wednesday we share with you the latest developments in the area of human rights in Turkey. As the Turkish government continues its crackdown on media and civil society, it is becoming increasingly difficult to learn about human rights violations in the mainstream media. We aim to highlight rights violations and give voice to victims from all walks of life during this difficult period.
ECtHR faults Turkey for conviction of teacher over Gülen links in landmark decision
The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on Tuesday ruled that Turkish courts’ conviction of a teacher of terrorism over activities such as the use of a mobile application or having an account at a certain bank was unlawful, in a decision that could have far-reaching implications for thousands facing similar charges in Turkey. The ECtHR faulted Turkey due to violations of three articles of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR): Article 6, which concerns the right to a fair trial; Article 7 on no punishment without law; and Article 11 on freedom of assembly and association. More..
More than 30,000 children sexually abused in Turkey in 2022
Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) data have revealed that a total of 31,890 children were victims of sexual offenses in the country last year. More..
Document confirms diplomats spied on Erdoğan critic abducted by Turkish intelligence in Tajikistan
Koray Vural, a Turkish businessman who is believed to have been rendered by Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization MIT, had been profiled by Turkish diplomats in 2017 and reported to the foreign ministry in Ankara. More..
Turkey unable to implement its own laws: annual human rights report
The Human Rights Association (İHD) has introduced its annual report covering human rights violations in 2022, which it presented as evidence of Turkey’s inability to implement its domestic legislation and international treaty obligations regarding human rights. More..
Thousands of Syrians face return to earthquake zones as travel permits expired over the weekend
Syrian refugees who were registered in Turkey’s earthquake disaster zones now face the prospect of returning to the region despite unacceptable living conditions. More..
Court imposes access ban on 26 reports about bribery allegations against prosecutor A Turkish court has imposed an access ban on 26 news reports concerning bribery allegations made by a mobster against a public prosecutor that sparked a debate in Turkey about the shadowy relationship between the mafia and the judicial authorities. More..
Journalist gets prison sentence due to report on misused charity donations
A Turkish court has handed down a six-month sentence to a journalist on conviction of trespassing due to a 2020 report about the use of meat donated to a charity at a hotel co-owned by a former ruling party lawmaker. More..
CoE fails to sanction Turkey over jailed philanthropist, opts for ‘dialogue’ instead
The Committee of Ministers, the decision-making body of the CoE, has refrained from announcing a plan to impose sanctions on Turkey over the imprisonment of businessman and philanthropist Osman Kavala, during its meeting in Strasbourg this week. More..
Film about Turkey’s purge victims cut from festival, drawing criticism
The organizing committee of the Golden Orange Film Festival in Turkey’s Antalya province has removed a documentary depicting the plight of victims of a massive purge of state institutions by the Turkish government in the aftermath of a failed coup in 2016, drawing strong criticism from victims and activists. More..
Turkey detains 27 X users on allegations of fomenting enmity, spreading disinformation Turkish police have detained 27 people including a number of journalists on allegations of fomenting enmity and hatred and spreading disinformation on their X social media accounts. More..
Turkish prosecutors order detention of 25 over alleged Gülen links
Ankara prosecutors have issued detention warrants for 25 people on terrorism-related allegations as part of an investigation into the faith-based Gülen movement. More..
High school student detained for obscene act with Atatürk picture
A 17-year-old high school student in İstanbul was detained following the circulation of a video on social media showing him performing a lewd act with a picture of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. More..
Pro-Kurdish MPs investigate prison mistreatment claims
Deputies from the pro-Kurdish Democratic Peoples’ Party (DHP), previously known as the Green Left Party (YSP), have launched an investigation into claims of severe mistreatment in a prison in the eastern province of Ağrı. More..
A Swedish-based, non-profit advocacy organization, Stockholm Center for Freedom promotes the rule of law, democracy and human rights with a special focus on Turkey. Committed to serving as a reference source by providing a broad perspective on rights violations in Turkey, SCF monitors daily developments, documents individual cases of the infringement of fundamental rights and publishes comprehensive reports on human rights issues.SCF is a member of the Alliance Against Genocide, an international coalition working to exert pressure on the UN, regional organizations and national governments to act on early warning signs and take action to prevent genocide.
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