International Reactions

The Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has launched a global solidarity campaign in support of imprisoned Turkish journalists and the government-seized media outlets on October 21. “Turkey: 90 journalists in jail – have your say!” read the title of campaign calling on journalists all across the globe to show solidarity with their colleagues in […]

The New York-based Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) has launched a public petition campaign asking people to urge Turkish government against what it calls “the worst repression we’ve ever seen.” “Medical professionals, scientists, and other academics are being fired from universities in Turkey by the thousands. Their crime? Participating in groups peacefully advocating for human rights and

Turkey has dropped by eight places from last year in the WJP Rule of Law Index 2016, released today by the World Justice Project (WJP). Ranked in 80th place out of 102 countries in 2015, Turkey slipped to number 99 out of 113 nations in the 2016 report. It came in 13th among the 13 countries in

Global human rights organizations as well as press freedom associations have urged the Turkish government to end its abuses against perceived critics committed under emergency rule. In a joint statement released on Oct. 19, the first day of the second state of emergency declared by the government since a July 15 coup attempt, the groups

The American Booksellers Association (ABA) joined American publishers, authors, and librarians in a letter urging U.S. President Barack Obama to protest the widespread suppression of free speech in Turkey during his September 4 meeting with Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan in China. In the letter co-signed by the Association of American Publishers, the Authors Guild, PEN America, and

In a joint statement released on Monday, four European judges associations urged Turkey to investigate every individual assertion of torture, especially the reported death of Seyfettin Yiğit, who was found hanged on Sept. 16. The Association of European Administrative Judges (AEAJ), European Association of Judges (EAJ), Judges for Judges and MEDEL issued a joint statement

Fears that the Turkish government would capitalize on a state of emergency to silence critics who have nothing to do with a July 15 coup attempt have come true, Emma Sinclair-Webb, Turkey director of the US-based non-profit Human Rights Watch (HRW), has said. In a  written statement on Friday HRW said Turkey’s recent decision to

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey has announced a three-month extension of the state of emergency imposed after a failed July 15 coup attempt, giving him broad powers to rule by decree. He has launched a massive crackdown against followers of the self-exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Mr. Erdogan accuses of instigating the attempted overthrow. Mr.

Human Rights Commissioner at the Council of Europe Nils Muiznieks has called on Turkish authorities to end in the shortest time possible a state of emergency that was declared in the wake of a failed military coup on July 15. A memorandum released by Muiznieks’ office on Friday on the human rights implications of measures

The Brussels-based European Networks of Councils for the Judiciary (ENCJ) is set to hold an extraordinary general meeting during which it will discuss the suspension of the observer status of Turkey’s Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) over rule of law concerns, in December. In a written statement issued on Sept. 28, ENCJ said HSYK’s