Turkey Human Rights

Human Rights Concerns

Though Turkey has taken recent steps to bring its laws into line with international standards on human rights, severe problems remain, particularly for Turkish women. The government has passed new legislation prescribing tougher penalties for battering or abusing women, although this legislation is not widely enforced. Familial violence, including rape, murder, beatings, and enforced suicide is still prevalent—AI estimates that up to fifty percent of women have experienced some kind of domestic violence.

AI is concerned that security forces have a tacit license to use excessive force against peaceful demonstrators, and to torture or ill-treat those arrested on political grounds. Abuses perpetrated by law enforcement officials regularly go unpunished.

Turkey: Mehmet Bal Urgent Action (UA163/08) (PDF)

Public Statement: Three Children on Trial in Case over Freedom of Expression (PDF)

UPDATE: The three children being tried in an adult court have had the charges against them dropped. However, other children who were charged still will go on trial, and there are still charges pending against the choir director. For more information, see the following BBC story.

Demand Protection for Orhan Kemal Cengiz in Turkey (UA 40/08)

Orhan Kemal Cengiz, a lawyer, human rights defender and newspaper columnist, has been threatened and intimidated because of his legal work on behalf of one of three men killed in an attack at a Christian publishing house in April 2007. The authorities have not yet granted his request for protection. Take action.

Women's Human Rights Defender Cânân Arin

Wherever the fundamental rights of women are violated in the name of tradition, power and honor, defenders of women’s rights have risen to challenge these injustices. Cânân Arin , is one such defender. Read the transcript from our discussion with Arin on her her work to stop violence against women in Turkey. Read the online discussion transcript | Learn more. »

Turkey Urged to Respect LGBT People’s Right to Freedom of Association
A local court in Istanbul ordered the closure of the Turkish lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender solidarity organization, Lambda Istanbul. The court ruled on May 29 in favor of a complaint by the Istanbul Governor's Office that Lambda Istanbul's objectives were against Turkish "moral values and family structure". » More actions

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