Category: Free speech
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China’s Human Rights Violations in Uyghur and Other Muslim Regions
China has been widely condemned for gross human rights violations in Uyghur and other Muslim regions, particularly in Xinjiang province. These violations have been described as crimes against humanity. Since 2017, the Chinese government has engaged in a systematic assault against Uyghurs and Turkic Muslims that includes mass arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearance, mass surveillance,…
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Journalist Tolga Sardan’s Arrest: A Challenge to Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression in Turkey
In Turkiye, T24 writer and experienced journalist Tolga Şardan was arrested on November 1, within the scope of the investigation initiated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, due to his article titled ” Judicial report submitted by MİT to the Presidency”. Şardan, who was investigated on the charge of ” disseminating misleading information to…
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Silencing the Golden Orange: The Antalya Film Festival Controversy and the Battle for Artistic Freedom
Antalya, a municipality in southern Turkey, made headlines recently when it decided to cancel the long-standing Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival. The cancellation came in the wake of a controversy surrounding a political documentary titled “Kanun Hukmu” or “Decree.” The film delves into the lives of a physician and a teacher who were dismissed from…
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Urgent Appeal for the Release of Can Atalay
Urgent Appeal for the Release of Can Atalay, Elected Lawmaker, in Compliance with Constitutional Rights Can Atalay, an elected lawmaker from the Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP), who is currently incarcerated in spite of the decisions made by the Court of Cassation and the Constitutional Court. Can Atalay was arrested on April 25, 2022, following…
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Human Rights Violations Suffered by Oleg Orlov
Oleg Orlov, a prominent Russian human rights defender and co-chairman of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization Memorial, has faced numerous human rights violations in recent years. These violations were inflicted upon him by the Russian government in response to his vocal criticism of the war in Ukraine and his dedication to human rights advocacy. Despite…
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In Defense of Freedom of Expression: The Aida Ćorović Case
On October 3, 2023, Serbian activist Aida Ćorović faced a conviction and a fine for a protest incident that occurred on November 9, 2021. During a peaceful protest against fascism and antisemitism, Aida Ćorović threw eggs at a graffiti image of Ratko Mladić, a convicted war criminal in Belgrade. Rights Defenders strongly condemns this conviction…
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Journalists were detained
T24 editor Sibel Yüksekler, Mezopotamya Agency reporters Delal Akyüz and Fırat Can Arslan, Bianet editor Evrim Kepenek and Evrim Deniz were detained during a police raid on their homes. The journalists were detained on the grounds that they “shared a social media message regarding the new positions of the married judge and prosecutor in Diyarbakır”…
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A local journalist was beaten by law enforcement officers
A police officer and a municipality employee were arrested in connection with the beating of Sinan Aygül, who works as a local journalist in the Tatvan district of Bitlis and wrote about the allegations of irregularities in the municipality, on 17.06.2023. Article 10 1. : “Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right…