Tag: Turkiye
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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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Justice and Accountability After the 2023 Turkey Earthquake: Challenges and Unresolved Questions
The February 6, 2023, earthquakes in Turkey exposed widespread construction malpractices and regulatory failures, leading to thousands of deaths and massive destruction. Investigations revealed that many buildings collapsed due to the use of substandard materials and negligence in enforcing earthquake-resistant regulations. Corruption played a major role, as permits and inspections were often bypassed, allowing unsafe…
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Osman Kavala
Osman Kavala is a well-known philanthropist and rights advocate in Turkey. Yet, he has been behind bars for over 86 months (over 7 years), and his case has come to symbolize the decline of human rights and judicial independence in the country. Kavala’s imprisonment is not just an isolated case but a reflection of the…
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Enduring Injustice: The Ordeal of Alzheimer’s Patient Ibrahim Gungor in Turkish Prison
Ibrahim Gungor, an 72-year-old Alzheimer’s patient, has been subjected to severe human rights violations during his imprisonment in Turkey. Despite his advanced age and deteriorating health, Gungor remains incarcerated, highlighting the Turkish authorities’ disregard for the well-being of critically ill prisoners. Reports indicate that he has been denied access to adequate medical care, exacerbating his…
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Lawyer Dilek Ekmekci is facing Judicial Repression in Türkiye
Update: Dilek Ekmekci’s hunger strike that began on the 18th November ended on the 28th December. Her next court hearing is on the 10th of January. Dilek Ekmekci, a Turkish criminal lawyer, has been arrested in Türkiye. Since 2020, she has been working on the sexual exploitation of children in state care. In the case…
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Review of Turkey’s Human Rights Record
Regarding the UN Human Rights Committee Review Session in Geneva, November 2024 The UN Human Rights Committee reviewed Turkey’s human rights record in Geneva in November 2024. Rights Defenders Initiative attended the session with a representative and had the privilege to give a speech to the Committee based on the report they prepared and submitted.…
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Lawyer Dilek Ekmekci is facing Judicial Repression in Türkiye
Dilek Ekmekci, a Turkish criminal lawyer, has been arrested in Türkiye. Since 2020, she has been working on the sexual exploitation of children in state care. In the case of assassination of Sinan Ates, former leader of the far-right party Grey Wolves (Turkish: Ulku Ocaklari), she has been investigating the involvement of the state members.…
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Trial of the Girls – Weaponising Terrorist-Defence Laws Against Children
On September the 23rd 2024, the highly controversial trial of 15 minors (aged 13-17) began in Turkiye. The charges, like many similar cases, are that of ‘terrorist actions’. These actions involve studying, organising educational programs, and supporting children affected by the government’s emergency decrees (KHK). The source of the controversy is that the actions are…
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Yavuz Ekinci: A Writer on Trial for his Fiction Novel in Türkiye
Yavuz Ekinci, a Kurdish writer and a teacher with over 10 books, more than 5 awards for his contributions, and adaptation of his writings into theatre and cinematography is on trial in Turkey. One of his books called Ruyasi Bolunenler (Dreams Divided) a novel based on a Kurdish person’s journey of fleeing Turkey and finding…
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Political Prisoner kept handcuffed during chemotherapy, after his release was ordered
Mustafa Aytac, 31, a mechanical engineer was imprisoned in 2022 due to his association with the Gulen Movement (GM). He was sentenced to over 7 years; because of helping those dismissed state employers by presidential decree (KHK) and organising or attending Gulen Movement’s religious gatherings. He is incarcerated in Afyonkarahisar Province Prison and was diagnosed…