Türkiye: A UN expert expresses horror at the use of anti-terrorism laws to “silence peaceful voices”

In a statement issued on Thursday, Ms. Lawlor* said she was deeply concerned by the arrest of nine prominent human rights defenders and lawyers, “Who have been arbitrarily detained for their peaceful work and convicted in unfair trials on false terrorism-related charges.”

While she thanked the Turkish Government for its response to one of the two letters it had sent on the subject of human rights defenders, she said that it still “I am disturbed that the criminalization of their work has not stopped.”

Eight of the advocates named by Ms. Lawlor in her statement are members of the Progressive Lawyers Association, representing victims of police violence and torture and citizens who have been prosecuted for their opinions. They were arrested between 2018 and 2019 and charged “Belonging to a terrorist organization.” They were sentenced to up to 13 years in prison at trial “Failed to meet international fair trial and due process standards,” According to the Special Rapporteur.

The ninth lawyer, Mr. Turan Canbulat, who belongs to the Malatya Bar Association, was also sentenced under terrorism-related articles in the Turkish Penal Code. He has been detained since 2016, when he was arrested based on incriminating evidence provided by his client, who later admitted that he was forced to make the statements. However, Mr. Canbulat was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his alleged links to the Gulen movement, which Türkiye accuses of being behind the 2016 coup attempt.

Ms. Lawlor said it was unfortunate that the nine human rights defenders were being held in high-security prisons. “Despite their history of peaceful work in defense of human rights.” The UN expert also expressed her deep concern to learn that Mr. Kanpolat had been held in solitary confinement for nearly three years, although no specific disciplinary orders had been issued.

It urged the Turkish government to adhere to international human rights law, ensure that no accused are subjected to ill-treatment and that detainees receive a fair trial in their appeals before the supreme courts. It expressed its readiness to discuss this matter further with the Turkish authorities.

*It is noteworthy that special rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the Human Rights Council in Geneva, which is an international body responsible for promoting and protecting human rights around the world. Rapporteurs and experts are tasked with studying human rights situations and submitting reports on them to the Human Rights Council. It should be noted that this position is honorary, and these experts are not considered employees of the United Nations and do not receive compensation for their work.