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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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Challenges to Turkey’s Council of Europe Membership: Defending Human Rights and the Rule of Law
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 recent…
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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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The UK Government’s Controversial Plan to Send Asylum Seekers to Rwanda
Introduction: The United Kingdom government has faced significant criticism for its plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda as part of an asylum partnership arrangement. This controversial scheme has been met with widespread opposition from human rights groups, politicians, and international organizations. The plan has been declared unlawful by the UK Court of Appeal, and…
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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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Forced disappearances in Turkey
The human rights violations have been taking place in Turkey against a large number of innocent people. The situation is extremely alarming and requires the attention of the international community to bring an end to this humanitarian crisis. There are wide range of human rights violations, such as extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, torture,…
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MS diagnosed ex-pilot has been in prison for 6 years
The rule of law and respect for human rights are increasingly severely undermined and restricted in Turkey, The rule of law is a cornerstone of ensuring respect for and protecting human rights. The people in Turkey are facing serious problems in their everyday lives. There are threats to all human rights: individual freedoms are cramped,…
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Ex-officer is struggling to live in prison
Mustafa Ozcan Cay, a former staff colonel convicted on coup charges, was denied release from prison by Turkey’s Constitutional Court despite his inability to perform even the most basic tasks such as eating, drinking and using the bathroom without assistance due to advanced stage multiple sclerosis (MS). Cay served in various national and NATO posts.…
