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Türkiye: reverse a critically hostile environment for freedom of expression and for journalists, human rights defenders and civil society
“Freedom of expression is in peril in Türkiye, with journalists, human rights defenders and civil society operating in a critically hostile environment, marked by systematic pressure and legal action against them”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović,...
Statement
The Turkish authorities must protect democratic freedoms
The Turkish authorities should put an end to the hostile environment affecting human rights defenders, journalists, NGOs and lawyers and stop silencing them by means of administrative and judicial action. Ahead of elections, the pressure on these important actors in a democratic society has...
Written comments
Commissioner Mijatović intervenes in the infringement proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Osman Kavala v. Turkey
Today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights published her written comments, submitted on 6 April 2022 to the European Court of Human Rights, in the infringement proceedings in the case of Osman Kavala v. Turkey. These proceedings concern the question referred to the Court by the...
Statement
Turkey: prolongation of detention of Osman Kavala displays contempt for human rights and the rule of law
Yesterday’s decision of the Istanbul 13th Assize Court to prolong the detention of Mr Osman Kavala perpetuates the violation of both his human rights and of Turkey’s obligation to abide by a final judgment of the European Court of Human Rights. Mr Kavala has been in detention for 46 months...
Letter
Turkish authorities should stop the stigmatisation of LGBTI people
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Interior and the Minister of Justice of Turkey, published today, the Commissioner calls on the authorities to fulfil the commitments enshrined in the national Action Plan on Human Rights, stop the stigmatisation of LGBTI people, and uphold their freedoms...
Statement
Turkey’s announced withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention endangers women’s rights
“Turkey’s Presidential Decree published on 20 March announcing the withdrawal from the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence is an ill-advised decision. It undermines women’s rights and sends the wrong signal to all women in Turkey...
Letter
Turkey: authorities should refrain from further restricting NGOs activities and freedom of association in the name of counter-terrorism
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Interior and the Minister of Justice of Turkey, made public today, the Commissioner calls on the authorities to refrain from further implementing the Law on Preventing Financing of Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, pending the outcome of the...
Statement
Commissioner reiterates her call to restore and uphold the role of lawyers as human rights defenders in Turkey in the aftermath of the death of lawyer Ebru Timtik
I am deeply saddened by the death of lawyer Ebru Timtik, who died in a hospital in Turkey after 238 days of hunger strike, during which her demand for a fair trial remained unmet by the Turkish justice system. I express my sincere condolences to her family. Ms Timtik was one of the lawyers of the...
Rule 9
The Turkish authorities should release Osman Kavala and take far-reaching measures to prevent the misuse of detentions on remand
The Commissioner published today her submission to the Committee of Ministers in the context of the supervision of the execution of the judgment handed down by the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Kavala v. Turkey on 10 December 2019. This case relates to the detention of the...
Statement
Commissioner’s concerns about proposed changes affecting the legal profession in Turkey
“I have taken note with concern of a bill recently submitted to the Turkish Parliament containing amendments to the Turkish Law No. 1136, which affect lawyers and their professional associations. The proposed changes would notably allow for a plurality of bar associations in provinces with large...
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* On 16 March 2022, the Committee of Ministers adopted a decision by which the Russian Federation ceased to be a member of the Council of Europe, after 26 years of membership.
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