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Convictions of Human Rights Defenders in Turkey Quashed
The convictions of four human rights defenders, including Taner Kılıç, the Honorary Chair of Amnesty Türkiye, and Idil Eser, the ex-director of Amnesty Türkiye, were quashed by a Turkish court. Although Amnesty International described the ruling as a huge relief, they also highlighted the politically motivated nature of the prosecutions. Taner Kılıç, İdil Eser, Özlem Dalkıran, and Günal Kurşun were four of eleven human rights defenders in the Büyükada case who were convicted in July 2020. The decision to quash these convictions comes exactly six years after Taner’s initial arrest, followed by the arrests of the others.
Unconscionable Injustice
While Amnesty International expressed relief over the quashing of the convictions, they described the duration of the legal proceedings as an unconscionable travesty of justice. Successive courts have been accepting baseless allegations levelled against the four human rights defenders for six years. Amnesty International Secretary General, Agnès Callamard, pointed out that politically motivated prosecutions often use the courts as a tool to silence critical voices.
The Ordeal Is Not Over
Even though Taner, İdil, Özlem, and Günal have been cleared of all charges, Amnesty International acknowledges that many other human rights defenders remain in jail, live in fear of arrest, or face similar unfounded prosecutions across Türkiye. Amnesty International will continue to fight against the curtailing of human rights relentlessly on behalf of those who refuse to be silenced by the Turkish government’s threats.
The Background
Taner Kılıç and Özlem Dalkıran are founding members of Amnesty International Türkiye who have played a crucial role in defending human rights over the last 20 years. At the time of her arrest, Idil Eser was the Director of Amnesty International Türkiye, while Günal Kurşun is a prominent human rights defender and an international criminal law expert in the country.
The Alleged Offense
Taner Kılıç was alleged to have downloaded and used the ByLock messaging app, which the prosecution claimed was used for communication by the Gülen movement, a group blamed for organizing an attempted coup in 2016. However, two forensic analyses of Kılıç’s phone commissioned by Amnesty International and a police report found no evidence of ByLock having ever been installed.
Workshop on Well-Being and Digital Security
İdil Eser, Özlem Dalkıran, and Günal Kurşun were among ten people, which the prosecutor dubbed Istanbul 10, who were detained by police while they attended a workshop on well-being and digital security in July 2017. On October 4, 2017, an Istanbul prosecutor filed an indictment against the Istanbul 10 and Taner Kılıç, who was allegedly aware of preparations for the workshop and in contact with two defendants.
Appeal by the Prosecutor
The acquittal of the four human rights defenders remains subject to an appeal by the prosecutor. Amnesty International has previously published an analysis of the case against Taner Kılıç and detailed further information about the case in general.
Editorial: Fighting Against the Curtailing of Human Rights
The quashing of convictions against these four human rights defenders in Turkey is undoubtedly a positive development, but it must not divert attention from the gravity of the persistent attacks on human rights defenders not only in Turkey but also in many other countries globally. Activists and defenders who challenge the powerful are subjected to different forms of repression, from judicial harassment, harassment by state officials, smear campaigns, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances. As established democracies continue to shrink under authoritarian governments’ weight, it is the fundamental responsibility of everyone globally to call for accountability, visibility, and an unyielding commitment to protect those who protect human rights.
Advice
People globally need to understand that the protection of human rights defenders is a matter of global importance. It is fundamental to the functioning of democratic institutions and the promotion of civil society. Individuals can play a constructive role in as much as they can. A good starting point is to be well-versed with the human rights defenders‘ rights and the persistent attacks they face when advocating for them, join grass-root movements around the world that support human rights defenders and press the governments to ensure accountability for those who subject activists and defenders to repression.
<< photo by Sora Shimazaki >>
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