Category: Justice and Rights
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Gender-based violence in 2025
According to the United Nations, violence against women is described as “ any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life”. The…
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Abortion Restrictions and Human Rights Violations in Morocco
In Morocco, abortion is criminalised in nearly all circumstances. Under Article 453 of the Penal Code, abortion is permitted only if performed by a medical professional to save the woman’s life or physical health—and requires the husband’s or chief medical officer’s authorisation. All other cases are punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment for the woman…
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Detention of Lawyer Mehmet Pehlivan and Repression of the Legal Profession in Türkiye
Lawyer Mehmet Pehlivan, defence counsel for detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, has been subjected to escalating judicial harassment in Türkiye, exemplifying the growing repression of legal professionals. Pehlivan’s arrest and ongoing detention are based on vague and politically motivated charges, including “money laundering” and “membership in a criminal organisation.” These charges are rooted in his…
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ECHR Decision on Yalcinkaya Case
As Rights Defenders, we have deep concern regarding recent developments that question Turkey’s continued membership in the Council of Europe. As a member of this esteemed organization for the past 73 years, Turkey has committed to safeguarding fundamental human rights on European soil, as enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The judgment…
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Sümeyra Gelir
On April 3, 2025, 15-year-old Sümeyra Gelir passed away in her sleep at her home in Bolu, Turkey. While her death was medically attributed to epilepsy, her family and human rights advocates believe that the overwhelming responsibilities placed on her young shoulders—combined with the emotional trauma of being separated from her mother—played a significant role…
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Unjust Arrest of Ayşe Barım: A Violation of Human Rights and the Rule of Law
Ayşe Barım is the founder of ID Iletisim and a well-known manager of many famous actors in Turkiye. In early January 2025, various allegations surfaced in the media regarding her dual role as both a casting director and a manager. Some industry figures argued that this situation created a conflict of interest and was unethical,…
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The Case of Akin Öztürk: Violations of Human Rights and Arbitrary Detention
On 15 July 2016, during the events of the so-called coup attempt in Türkiye, Akin Öztürk, former Commander of the Turkish Air Force, returned to Ankara from his annual leave, which he had spent at a military summer facility in İzmir. His return was prompted by his wife’s health issues. That evening, he received a…
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Trump Administration Moves to Reject Transgender Identity
Within hours of reclaiming the presidency on Monday, United States President Donald Trump signed an extensive executive order that aims to dismantle essential protections for transgender individuals and explicitly denies the legitimacy of gender identity. This sweeping directive revokes multiple executive orders established by former President Joe Biden. Among these are policies that allowed transgender…
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75-year-old mother arrested for legally sending money into prison in Turkiye
75-year-old mother Hatice Yildiz is sentenced to 4 years and 2 months for sending pocket money to her daughter and daughter’s friend in prison through legal ways. As her charge for “providing finance for a terrorist organisation” was confirmed, the police went to arrest her on 23rd March 2024. Her medical conditions include hypertension, lumbar…
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Aleksey Navalny: A Prominent Figure in Russian Politics
Aleksey Navalny was a prominent Russian opposition leader, anti-corruption activist, and politician. He played a significant role in advocating for political transparency, accountability, and democratic reforms in Russia. Navalny’s importance for Russia stems from his relentless efforts to fight corruption, his influence in mobilizing public support, and his role in exposing the inner workings of…