On June 25, around 4,500 gathered in Strasbourg demanding justice in Turkey, near the Council of Europe and ECtHR buildings. The fourth edition of the Strasbourg Justice Gathering took place on June 25 in front of the Council of Europe, continuing its mission to spotlight human rights violations in Türkiye. Organized by the Europe-based Peaceful Actions Platform, with Human Rights Solidarity as a co-organizer, this year’s event centered on the theme “Justice for All.” Around 4,500 Turkish expatriates gathered along Allée de la Robertsau, a 900-meter stretch near the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) buildings.

The demonstration began at 11:30 AM Central European Time with a march and chants, drawing participation from six members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). Among the notable speakers were French MPs Emmanuel Fernandes and Sandra Regol, Spanish MP Laura Castel, Belgian MPs Benjamin Dalle and Christophe Lacroix, and German MP Vinzenz Glaser.

In their speeches, the parliamentarians highlighted systemic injustices in Türkiye, including the tragic death of 15-year-old Sümeyra Gelir—who succumbed to illness three months after being forced to care for her siblings following her mother’s arrest—and the ongoing imprisonment of opposition mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

French MP Sandra Regol underscored the erosion of the rule of law in Türkiye since 2016, stating: “Innocent people are jailed on baseless terrorism charges. Prisons are overflowing 130 new facilities have been built in just a few years. Trials rely on prejudice, not evidence. The repression extends beyond Türkiye’s borders, with abductions abroad continuing unabated. Among Council of Europe members, Türkiye leads in prison overcrowding.”

Participants, including victims of post-coup decree (KHK) dismissals, renewed their call for the Council of Europe to enforce the Yalçınkaya ruling. They urged immediate compliance with ECtHR judgments in the cases of Yalçınkaya, Kavala, and Demirtaş, demanding an end to unlawful detentions that persist despite the court’s rulings.

Human rights activists protested in Strasbourg, wearing yellow T-shirts and holding banners, to denounce ongoing rights violations in Türkiye. The demonstration, near the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), drew around 4,500 people chanting slogans like “Justice for All” and “Children Do Not Belong in Prison.” Representatives from rights groups, including Human Rights Solidarity (HRS), submitted letters to ECtHR and Council of Europe officials, signed by 16 European associations, condemning Türkiye’s worsening rights record since 2016—including political imprisonments, press suppression, and unfair trials.

Protesters criticized Türkiye’s stalled legal system, urging the ECtHR to bypass exhausted domestic remedies and fast-track cases. They also slammed inadequate compensation in some rulings. The rally highlighted specific cases, like 15-year-old Sümeyra Gelir, who died after her mother’s arrest, and jailed opposition mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, calling for international accountability.

Letter to Secretary-General Alain Berset

The letter addressed to Secretary-General Alain Berset demanded public recognition of Türkiye’s failure to comply with rulings from the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), particularly in the Yalçınkaya case, and called for the initiation of Article 46(4) violation proceedings. It also urged the Council of Europe to engage with oppressed communities and civil society actors—both within Türkiye and in the diaspora—as legitimate stakeholders in dialogue and reform efforts. Additionally, the letter emphasized the need for coordinated action among member states to uphold democratic values and the integrity of the ECtHR.

Ride for Rights

Under the banner Ride for Rights, Human Rights Solidarity (HRS) mobilized cyclists from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, and France to raise global awareness about the ongoing oppression and unlawful practices in Türkiye through a unique and impactful advocacy initiative.

Last year, a dedicated team of five to six cyclists rode an impressive 900 kilometers, starting in the UK and passing through the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and France before joining the march in Strasbourg on October 2. This year, the campaign evolved into a relay-style event, with volunteer teams cycling in their respective countries to contribute to the cause. We extend our deepest gratitude to every cyclist who participated in this powerful display of solidarity.

Justice Wall

Alongside the demonstrations, HRS installed a massive Justice Wall measuring 20 meters long and 2.5 meters high next to the main stage. Over the course of a week, artists painted striking illustrations highlighting human rights violations in Türkiye on the upper section. These included portraits of prominent political prisoners like Osman Kavala, Selahattin Demirtaş, and Ekrem İmamoğlu; a tribute to 15-year-old Sümeyra Gelir, who tragically died from an epileptic seizure on April 3, 2025, after her mother, Melek Gelir, was imprisoned; crackdowns on Boğaziçi University students; suppression of journalists; the struggles of families affected by KHK decrees; and the forced replacement of elected officials in Kurdish and CHP-run municipalities with government-appointed trustees.

The lower section of the wall was reserved for participants, who left heartfelt messages and signatures in support of human rights, justice, democracy, and peace—transforming the installation into a powerful collective statement against injustice.

Human Rights Solidarity hosted a Refugee Week panel and art exhibition highlighting refugee resilience, dignity, and global stories of displacement. Human Rights Solidarity (HRS) was proud to present “Sanctuary and Solidarity: Rethinking Refuge in a Divided World,” a thought-provoking panel discussion held alongside the Humanity Cartoons Exhibition as part of Refugee Week 2025. The event took place on 17 June 2025, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM, at City, St George’s, University of London, bringing together diverse voices to address the pressing challenges and transformative potential of forced migration.

Featuring powerful works from artists in over 100 countries, the Humanity Cartoons Exhibition offered a poignant visual narrative of displacement. These artworks transcended language, capturing raw, untold stories often overlooked in mainstream media. Instead of reducing refugees to mere statistics, the exhibition showcased their resilience, dignity, and strength through compelling human portraits.

The discussion featured an exceptional lineup of professors, storytellers, lawyers, and media experts from City, St George’s, who engaged the audience in critical conversations about displacement, identity, justice, and community in an increasingly fractured world. Their insights highlighted the urgent need for solidarity and systemic change.

About Refugee Week

Refugee Week, the world’s largest arts and culture festival celebrating refugees, was founded in the UK in 1998 and has since grown into a global movement. Held annually around World Refugee Day, its mission is to promote inclusion, amplify refugee voices, and challenge harmful narratives through art, education, and advocacy.

The 2025 theme, “Community as a Superpower,” emphasized the strength of collective action in creating welcoming spaces for refugees. In 2024, the festival saw over 15,000 events worldwide with 1.3 million participants, ranging from grassroots gatherings to large-scale cultural celebrations. Events include art exhibitions, film screenings, concerts, workshops, and storytelling sessions, many led by refugees themselves.

The evening was filled with powerful reflections and calls to action, featuring moving talks by Prof. Francesca Strumia (City, St George’s), Michel Salamouni (City Cares, City, St George’s), Sanjar Qiam (Storyteller, Kite Maker, and Media Specialist), and Burak Batuhan Karakus, HRS Spokesperson — exploring forced migration, identity, and justice. One speaker poignantly noted:

“A child born in a Rohingya camp doesn’t dream of dependency. She dreams of becoming a teacher.”

With 85% of refugees hosted in resource-strained countries, the panel stressed the urgent need for equitable global responsibility and sustainable solutions. Displacement is not a temporary crisis — it demands bold, long-term strategies that recognize refugees as contributors, not burdens, to society.

“It’s time to replace shame with solutions.”

Refugees are doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs, and artists with immense potential. Beyond emergency aid, investments in education, digital access, legal work rights, and economic opportunities are crucial. In an era of global connectivity, we have the tools to match skills, foster integration, and build stronger communities for all.

HRS extends heartfelt thanks to City, St George’s, University of London for hosting this vital discussion, as well as to the speakers, attendees, and supporters who reaffirmed that community is indeed a superpower. Together, we can create a world where sanctuary and solidarity prevail.

HRS members, joined London’s impactful Women’s March, advocating for education rights and highlighting global struggles against gender-based violence and injustice. Human Rights Solidarity (HRS) marked International Women’s Day on March 8 with its annual demonstration, joining forces with the Million Women Rise collective in London’s Great March. This year, the HRS Women’s Rights Committee spotlighted the critical issue of education access while amplifying the voices of women globally enduring violence and injustice particularly Afghan girls barred from schooling. Asiye Betul, a representative of the committee, delivered a stirring poetic address at Trafalgar Square, articulating the systemic oppression faced by women in regions worldwide.

Renowned as one of the largest and most impactful women’s rights gatherings globally, London’s annual march is a women-led initiative backed by diverse organizations and individuals nationwide. Participants from varied cultural, religious, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds united to condemn gender-based violence and inequality. Chants, banners, and songs echoed calls for justice, weaving a tapestry of resistance and solidarity.

This year’s demonstration kicked off at Oxford Street, London’s bustling shopping hub, and culminated at Trafalgar Square. Thousands marched for two hours along the 3-kilometer route, blending drumbeats, slogans, and a festive yet resolute atmosphere. Protestors demanded safer public spaces free from harassment, homes liberated from violence, and workplaces grounded in equity and dignity.

The HRS Women’s Rights Committee contributed a striking visual protest to the march. A delegation of 20 members staged a symbolic act highlighting Afghanistan’s education ban and the universal right to learning. Volunteers carried a 120×60 cm chained book model emblazoned with “Education” and “Women’s Rights,” while others wore miniature chained books as pendants. Their chants advocating education as freedom resonated alongside messages of global solidarity against gender-based oppression.

At the Trafalgar Square rally, speakers shed light on struggles faced by women in conflict zones like Gaza, Sudan, Syria, Iran, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Representing HRS, Asiye Betul recited an original poem decrying injustices from Turkey to global fronts. In a powerful climax, the chains binding the oversized book model were shattered, unveiling a hidden proclamation: “Denying education is denying freedom” a bold reminder of liberation’s inseparable tie to knowledge.

 *** 

NOTE: Here is the poem written and read by Asiye Betul:

What does my liberation look like?
Does it look like your laws, your wars, your rules?
Does it look like my body dissected by your schools?
Does it wear my face, does it speak my name?
Or is it just another mask for more of the same?

You look at me,
The barbarian other, veiled in ignorance,
beneath your supremacy, Veiled beneath your pity,
Telling me I need saving, while your hands are busy
Writing rules for my oppression, and laws that push me,
Across your borders, across humanity.

But? Here in Britain, who cleans your homes? Who raises your child?
Who wipes the tables where your rich sit and smile?
Migrant women in kitchens, in hospitals, in care,
The most invisible labour, lowest paid hours.
You say “go back,” but where do they go?
To the wreckage your empire left long ago?
Does your liberation reach asylum hotels, Home Office flats?
Where the right to belong is always too late?

What about Gaza? Where mothers dig graves,
Newborns breathe gas instead of air,
Women give birth in rubble, where life is death
You mourn your wars, count your dead,
While my sisters’ bodies are just headlines instead.
Where is your liberation without Palestinian women?

I am a Turkish woman,
and If it were up to me,
I would not know the name of the women murdered,
on the streets, in homes, in silent hours,
I would not know the names of those drowned crossing rivers,
If it were up to me, I would not have known exile nor borders,
nor so many women locked behind iron doors.
But I know Gulten Sayin and the pain of a son’s death,
I grew up seeing the face of Ozgecan on the internet,
I know the names of a thousand others,
Women buried in silence, in cells, in water.
My aunts, my sisters, my grandmothers.
May oppressors burn in their indifference.
My liberation without theirs is nothing but betrayal.

We’re here to speak about Afghan women,
So let me get started,
Because liberation without Afghan sisters is liberation denied.
Women doctors, women judges,
Women teachers, women scholars,
Now women locked, women silenced,
Women erased– for once I’d like to say women and not violence
Your armies came, your armies left,
And with them, their futures. That’s theft!
Knowledge is power, and women’s power you fear,
A girl with a book is a threat too near.
A girl writing is a threat,
A girl reading,
walking,
breathing
is a threat.
Crumble in your fear,

To hell with your instructions.
Tell me what to do with my ovaries.
Tell me how to democratise.
Tell me why covering my body is oppression,
But bombing mine is not.
Tell me how to speak, how to look, how to walk,
Is my accent just right? Am I dressed unprovocative enough?
Tell me what my freedom looks like,
How else will you humanise me?
Draw me a map to my own liberation,
Then burn it before I arrive.
Because your freedom was never for me,
It was never for the women in cages,
The Women suffering from your own wars,
The women in rubble, the women in exile,
women in schools turned to graves,
women across borders, women crossing channels
women who fix, wash, and clean your flannels.
And if your liberation is not for them,
Then it was never liberation at all.

HRS and King’s College London discussed refugee women’s integration challenges, highlighting Hizmet Movement volunteers’ more positive experiences from survey results. On the evening of February 25, Human Rights Solidarity (HRS) and King’s College London hosted a significant panel discussion addressing the integration processes and challenges faced by refugee women. The panel also evaluated the results of HRS’s “Integration Survey” conducted among female volunteers of the Hizmet Movement. The survey findings revealed that the integration experiences of Hizmet volunteers significantly differed from those of other refugee communities, demonstrating a more positive trend.

Moderated by Dr. Aqeel Abdulla from King’s College London, the panel featured 20-minute presentations by Dr. Nuni Jorgensen from the University of Oxford, Kerim Balcı from HRS, and Monique Garforth from the Refugee Employability Program. Asiye Betül Akyüz, a member of HRS’s Women’s Rights Committee, summarized the key findings of the women’s integration survey, while Sevgi Ünal introduced the simultaneous cartoon exhibition on migration and refugees held in the same venue. The panel was attended by more than 100 participants, including university and postgraduate students, as well as members of Turkish and various refugee communities.

At the beginning of the panel, moderator Dr. Aqeel Abdulla briefly shared his background, mentioning that he himself is a Syrian refugee who has now become a British citizen. Referring to the traumas caused by the 13-year civil war in his homeland, Abdulla emphasized the emotional burden of witnessing heartbreak and loss or listening to painful experiences. “This can be triggering for us because we must process this trauma in a productive and beneficial way. This is the pressure we put on ourselves and the reason why we advocate for asylum and refugee rights,” he stated.

Refugee policies must be free from gender bias

Dr. Nuni Jorgensen, a researcher at the University of Oxford’s Migration Observatory, pointed out that for many years, refugee policies have considered men as the “norm” and women as the “exception,” making integration significantly more challenging for female refugees. According to Jorgensen, while women often struggle to prove they are victims of gender-based violence, men frequently face skepticism and are sometimes denied asylum due to being perceived as “economic migrants.”

The percentage of male asylum seekers in the UK increased from 63% in 2009 to 80% in 2022, sparking political debates. However, data shows that both men and women have had an equal acceptance rate of 76%. Jorgensen stressed the need to remove gender-based assumptions from refugee policies and to reconsider migration experiences by acknowledging the different challenges faced by men and women.

Hizmet volunteers show greater tendency for integration

Kerim Balcı, who provides refugee rights training at HRS, compared the integration experiences of Hizmet Movement volunteers with those of other communities. According to HRS’s survey results, Hizmet volunteers demonstrated a notably different and more positive integration trend.

Balcı highlighted a striking finding from the survey: while 91% of the respondents were married, none of them cited domestic violence as a concern in response to open-ended questions about desired improvements in their lives. This contrasts with the findings of studies conducted by UK refugee councils, where domestic violence was frequently reported as a widespread issue among other refugee communities.

Additionally, Balcı noted that while some refugee communities in the UK still show resistance to sending their daughters to school, this trend was not observed among Hizmet volunteers. He attributed this to their stronger inclination toward integration with British society compared to other groups.

He further elaborated on the survey findings: “Among the respondents, 42.9% stated that human rights and freedoms were their primary concern, while 27.7% prioritized the rule of law. In contrast, only 23.4% identified financial stability as their main concern. This is unusual for migrant communities, as financial security is typically the top priority due to the economic setbacks and loss of professional recognition that often accompany migration. However, for this group (Hizmet volunteers), freedom, law, and the protection of fundamental rights take precedence.”

The biggest challenges: Language barrier and homelessness

Monique Garforth, who has long worked at a foundation focused on refugee employment, highlighted that one of the biggest challenges faced by women is ‘language proficiency’. She explained that due to language barriers, even routine tasks such as ‘registering with a general practitioner’ can become an overwhelming struggle.

Another critical issue, according to Garforth, is ‘homelessness’, which makes adapting to life in the UK nearly impossible: “For homeless individuals, concerns about education, training, or employment become secondary. The immediate need is a home. That is why a significant portion of our program is dedicated to helping refugees cope with homelessness.”

She pointed out that many refugee women, despite being highly educated, remain trapped in low-paying jobs due to ‘qualification recognition barriers’ or ‘systemic exclusion’. “Female refugees face significantly higher unemployment rates compared to both male refugees and the general population,” she stated.

Emphasizing that most refugees do not wish to rely on social security benefits but instead strive to work, establish their lives, and ensure their children’s success, Garforth concluded:
“Our services aim to support their integration into society, facilitate access to education, and help them find employment opportunities. These efforts create a real impact.”

‘Humanity Cartoons’ exhibition attracted great interest

Following the panel, attendees explored the ‘Humanity Cartoons’ exhibition, organized by HRS. The exhibition showcased the winning works from an ‘international cartoon competition’ focused on migration and refugee issues. Visitors, deeply engaged with the artwork, expressed how the illustrations powerfully depicted the struggles of refugees and influenced their perspectives on the issue.

The competition was originally launched in 2015 by Kimse Yok Mu, a humanitarian aid organization operating in Turkey. However, the Turkish government ‘unlawfully shut down’ the organization in 2016, forcing many of its employees into refugee status.

Since 2019, HRS and Time to Help volunteers have continued exhibiting the competition’s award-winning cartoons in the UK, including in cities like London and Newcastle. Due to strong public interest, the two organizations decided to continue the competition, rebranding it as ‘Humanity Cartoons’. The second and third editions were held in 2023 and 2024, respectively, and the winning artworks continue to be exhibited across the UK.

On Human Rights Day, HRS built a Justice Wall opposite Downing Street where supporters wrote their messages about rights abuses. Human Rights Solidarity (HRS) organised an important action on 10 December Human Rights Day. HRS activists built a 3 metre high and 15 metre long Justice Wall (made of canvas) opposite the Prime Minister’s Residence (10 Downing Street).

The top half of the wall had previously been painted by an artist depicting the persecution and rights violations of different groups in Turkey. On the lower half of the wall, which was left empty, hundreds of people who supported the protest wrote messages of justice and peace.

The Justice Wall was also unveiled during the 3rd March for Justice in front of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on 2 October 2024 and attracted great interest from the participants. The march called on Turkey to implement the judgements of the European Court of Human Rights.

The Justice Wall on Whitehall Street, where the Prime Minister’s residence and some ministerial buildings are located, remained open from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm. During this time, hundreds of passers-by supported the action and wrote their demands and complaints about human rights on the Justice Wall.

Some of them reflected their thoughts on justice and equality on the wall by drawing striking pictures. While there were people of all ages from 7 to 70 among those who wrote messages, it was noteworthy that the expressions were written in languages other than English and Turkish, such as French, German and Arabic.

HRS also issued a statement on the occasion of Human Rights Day on 10 December. In the statement read by Ceyda Kemanci, leader of HRS Women’s Rights Committee, the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was commemorated and it was emphasised that the continuation of wars, torture and rights violations around the world caused deep disappointment.

Stating that the Declaration proclaimed in 1948 was a great step towards securing human dignity and equality, the statement said: “However, we see that wars have not ended, torture still continues, the rights of women, children, minorities, refugees and people who think or believe differently are usurped every day. The principle of ‘everyone has equal rights from birth’ promised by the Declaration remains like a cry that does not find an echo in many corners of the world.”

The statement reminded that more than 2 million people in Turkey have been subjected to terrorism investigations on trumped-up grounds and nearly 200 thousand people have been arrested in the last 8 years, and it was stated that the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights have not been implemented. In addition, the ongoing persecution and violations in many countries such as Palestine/Gaza, China, Afghanistan, India, Iran and Yemen were explained.

The statement ended with the following statements: “Today, humanity is facing one of the most critical tests in the struggle for rights. The fundamental rights of millions of people are at stake and we should not wait for a global catastrophe to rediscover human values. We must fight together for a world where human rights are truly realised for every individual in every geography.”

‘Move and Muse-Walk’ project in Central London starts in March, led by London Advocacy and HRS, promoting history and community. Our project titled ‘Move and Muse-Walking Through History in Central London’ starts in March. The community walking and support project, run jointly by London Advocacy and Human Rights Solidarity (HRS), will give participants the opportunity to explore the historical and cultural richness of London. It also aims to improve participants’ physical and mental health, teach them new skills and build stronger links with the local community.

Funded by the London Marathon Foundation and Transport for London, an expert tour guide will explain the highlights of British history. The events, which will be limited to central London, will take place on the 2nd Saturday of each month and will last approximately 4 hours (11:00-14:00) including breaks.

Details about the programme are as follows:

•  Participation in the programme with the family will be accepted.
• We can accept a maximum of 25 participants for each trip. As we anticipate high demand, participants will be accepted in order of registration.
• The hike will be led by a certified tour guide. During the hike, participants will be provided with headphones and will have the opportunity to listen to the guide’s narration remotely.
• Participants will receive a certificate of participation (provided they have participated in at least 5 walks).
• Most of the walks will take place in historic and tourist attractions in central London.
• There will be no refreshments on the walks, but there will be a coffee break at the end of the programme.

For participation in the event, you can send an e-mail to

Winning cartoons from ‘2nd Int’l Migration Cartoons Competition’ by HRS and Time to Help UK exhibited in London’s key locations. The winning works of the ‘2nd International Migration Cartoons Competition’ organised by Human Rights Solidarity (HRS) and Time to Help UK were exhibited in important centres of London. 20 of the works titled ‘Humanity Cartoons’ were presented to the attention of the public in an interactive open-air exhibition held one week apart, first in Pancras Square and then in Trafalgar Square.

The exhibition, which drew attention to one of the most important agendas of the world, migration and immigration, remained in the square for more than 2 hours each. HRS and Time to Help volunteers explained the problems faced by refugees and migrants to the crowd viewing the exhibition and answered questions.

Each of the works emphasises the reasons why migrants leave their countries, the difficult conditions they are in and the human rights violations they are exposed to. They also criticise countries and institutions that make the lives of migrants more difficult instead of trying to solve the problems.

Our statement about the exhibition titled ‘Humanity Cartoons’ is as follows:

Humanity Cartoons is a joint project of Time to Help and Human Rights Solidarity. These are two registered charities in England and Wales. Time to Help is active in humanitarian aid; and Human Rights Solidarity works on human rights. Immigration and asylum is an issue where these two areas of charitable work come together.

Immigration and asylum are among the most important topics of discussion in the world today. The migration flow from East to West and from South to North is growing exponentially every year. Last year, approximately 80.000 people have applied for asylum in the UK. According to a UN report, more than 108 million people were forcibly displaced by the end of 2022.

This mobility brings with it economic, social and political problems. People who leave their countries at the risk of death face brand new problems in the countries they think of as ‘safe harbours’. Some are arrested, some deported and yet others lose their mental health within years of uncertainty imposed on them.

By using the language of art, we want to raise social awareness about this vital issue and contribute to the solution of this human tragedy. For this purpose, 768 artists from many countries submitted 1,278 works to the cartoon competition on ‘migration and immigration’. The wonderful cartoons you see here have been selected from these drawings.

Each of the works emphasises the reasons why migrants leave their countries, the difficult conditions they live in and the human rights violations they are exposed to. As people living in peace and prosperity, we have to think about them. Like every human being, they have the right to live freely. We should extend all kinds of helping hands to them and create the safe living conditions they need. The United Kingdom must be welcoming refugees.

The winning entries of the ‘2nd International Migration Cartoons Competition’ organised by HRS and Time to Help are on display. On Friday 8 September, 25 of the cartoons we call ‘Humanity Cartoons’ will be presented to the public at Pancras Square in London. You can see the cartoons drawn by important artists from different countries between 3.00-5.00 PM. The same exhibition will be on display in Trafalgar Square on Sunday 17 September.

These cartoons draw attention to the issue of ‘immigration’, which is among the most important agendas of the world, and aim to raise awareness about the violations of rights.

There are many migrants living in the UK and the number of asylum applications to the country is increasing every day. People who are looking for a safe place just to survive and who leave their countries at the risk of death face very serious difficulties.

As people living in peace and prosperity, we cannot ignore these migrants in difficult situations. Like every human being, they have the right to live and work. Being aware of this, we should extend a helping hand to migrants and provide the safe living conditions they seek.

With these feelings, we invite you to see the cartoons that illustrate the difficulties of migrants very well and to think about the solution of the problems.

Meet us at Pancras Square on Friday at 3.00pm.

In the panel held in the British Parliament, crimes of torture and countermeasures involving state officials in Turkey were discussed. On Monday 26th of June 2023, Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws hosted an event in UK Parliament in collaboration with The Arrested Lawyers Initiative and Human Rights Solidarity.

The event covered ‘The Deterrence Potential of Multilateral Sanctions for Human Rights Abuses in Turkey’ to discuss Impunity, torture, and ill-treatment in Turkey in relation to Magnitsky Sanctions from the United Kingdom. Speakers, Kevin Dent KC, Sarah Teich, Natalia Kubesch, and Michael Polak, presented at the event on their work against this issue and encouraged the public to raise awareness on the current political situation in Turkey and the UK’s benefit to help.

Baroness Helena Kennedy

The state of emergency in Turkey marked the beginning of gross human rights violations, including widespread torture facilitated by the adoption of impunity provisions, enforced disappearances and mass detention on an industrial scale. According to official figures, more than 600,000 people have been detained by the police on overly broad terrorism charges, while more than 100,000 have been remanded in custody. Between 2016 and 2021, more than 310,000 people were convicted of membership of an armed terrorist organisation. Since 2016, more than 1,600 lawyers have been detained, and so far, 551 lawyers have been sentenced to 3,356 years in prison on terrorism-related charges, mostly for
membership in terrorist organisations.

In September 2020, The Arrested Lawyers launched the Turkey Human Rights Accountability Project in response to the ongoing rule of law violations and imprisonment of lawyers, activists, journalists and academics on trumped-up charges. Prominent British barristers Kevin Dent KC and Michael Polak, who both attended the event. An extra step was made towards the Canadian Government, authored by Mr Dent and Mr Polak, as well as Ms Sarah Teich.

Significant Quotes:

Baroness Kennedy: “Turkey has been brought in front of the European Court of Human Rights and the court found defiance of rule of law time and again. At this point in time, the Council of Europe is weighing the possibility of taking action against Turkey.”

Michael Polak: “Sanctions work better when multiple countries are involved.”
“We provided the Foreign Ministry a well studied 500 pages long evidence file. Two years passed over our submission and every other month I am sending them an email and asking, did you read it. No response.”

Sarah Teich: “There are things we can learn from the UK and there are things they can learn from Canada. Multilateral learning is as good as multilateral sanctions.”

Kevin Dent KC: “This sense that you cannot sanction a friendly country has to be overcome. When I speak to people who are critical of Turkey’s human rights records, they say it is too complex to have sanctions on nationals of Turkey.”

Natalia Kubesch: “The fact that nationals of friendly countries avoid sanction gives a message of hypocrisy and that some lives matter more than others.”

Sarah Teich, Michael Polak, Kevin Dent QC, Beatrice Travis (London Advocacy, Moderator) Natalia Kubesch

Key Points made in the event:

• The event covered case submissions made to the governments of the UK, US, and Canada, detailing first-hand accounts of torture present in Turkey.

• The UK has a close security and diplomatic relationship with its Turkish counterparts. Turkey is a NATO member, a formal ally of Britain and has been a member of the Council of Europe since 1950. Turkey is also a close trade partner to Britain, with the UK being the second biggest importer of goods from Turkey.

• This context creates significant diplomatic sensitivities, impacting the UK government’s willingness to impose targeted human rights sanctions Turkish officials, in the fear that it could jeopardise future relations. Instead, the UK’s
government’s preference to date has been to raise any concerns pertaining to the human rights situations in Turkey bilaterally, at the ministerial level on an ad hoc basis.

• The case of Turkey demonstrates that even established democracies face the risk of sliding into authoritarianism and instability if they fail to confront emerging abuses and allies to do not hold them to account.

• There is a demand for action from governments who are yet to respond despite it being nearly two years since submissions to the UK and Canada:

• These sanctions are about visa arrangements and asset freezing.

• Sanctions can also provide an important symbolic form of accountability by expressly recognising the harm suffered by victims and calling out perpetrators for their involvement in the abuses: sanctions can convey strong signs of disapproval by condoning, and explicitly demanding changes, to the
targeted individuals’ or entities’ behaviour. Specifically, sanctions enable states to send a statement “that this will not stand”, deterring others from engaging in similar conduct.

We came together for the second time in Strasbourg to reiterate our call for justice against rights violations in Turkey. Nearly 3 thousand people who have been subjected to rights violations in Turkey met in Strasburg, France, where the European Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europe are located, and demanded urgent justice.

The second ‘Strasbourg Justice Meeting’ and ‘justice march’, the first of which was organised last year, was held today. The march protested against the silence of European political structures and legal institutions in the face of rights violation applications from Turkey.

Organised by a number of European human rights organisations including Human Rights Solidarity, the demonstration included a concert and various theatrical performances. Jeremy Corbyn, the former leader of the Labour Party in the UK, also made a speech on the stage, supporting the protesters and criticising the ECHR for delaying its decisions. Famous NBA player and activist Enes Kanter and Norwegian theologian Dag Aakre took the stage and expressed their demands for justice.

Approximately 3 thousand people who left Turkey due to severe human rights violations they suffered in Turkey for about 10 years gathered on All de la Robertsau Street, where the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the Council of Europe are located. Wearing yellow t-shirts and carrying yellow balloons and banners, the crowd expressed their demands for justice in front of the Council of Europe and the ECHR buildings after 12.00 pm. “Justice delayed is not justice! Victims are here, where is the court?” they chanted. Since no one from the Council of Europe greeted them, the victims left a letter with their demands at the door. The group then continued their march and stopped in front of the ECHR to present their letters to the officials of the institution.

LETTER TO THREE IMPORTANT EUROPEAN NAMES

Yasemin Aydın and Rumi Unal, representatives of the Peacefull Actions Platform, which represents hundreds of thousands of people whose rights have been violated, presented a letter addressed to three names holding important positions in European institutions. During the presentation of the letter, a theatrical performance was staged criticising the ECHR for issuing its judgements too late. A prison cell on wheels representing people who have been imprisoned for years also took place during the march.

The letter read as follows:

“Inhumane practices against all opposition groups in the country continue unabated. These widespread and systematic violations have been characterised as ‘crimes against humanity’ by the relevant UN bodies. Once again, no progress has been made on the more than three thousand educational institutions, thousands of legal associations and at least $32 billion in private assets confiscated after 15 July. Tens of thousands of women, the elderly, the sick and hundreds of babies under the age of six are still being held in prisons for political reasons. Dozens of people continue to be arrested on hollow charges on an almost daily basis. The hope of thousands of people systematically subjected to gross human rights violations is that the Council of Europe and the ECtHR, which have the authority to take binding decisions on Turkey, will enforce the law. It is essential that these institutions take their legal position on these acts of crimes against humanity without further delay and fulfil their obligations immediately. We are grateful for some of the judgements of the ECtHR during this time, which have been a breath of fresh air for the victims of political repression. However, we expect the Court, as soon as possible, to stop ignoring the fact that more than half a million people are being persecuted simply for exercising their fundamental rights, such as subscribing to a newspaper, having a bank account or sending their children to legally operating schools, joining a religious chat group or using a mobile communication app.”

INJUSTICES HIGHLIGHTED

As in the previous year, this year, as well as foreign guests, people who have been subjected to rights violations in Turkey and their families made speeches at the Justice Gathering. Melek Cetinkaya, mother of Taha Furkan Cetinkaya, a military student who was released after 6 years in prison, lawyer Elif Buyukozturk, teacher Halit Tonbul, teacher Gonca Kara who lost her two children Gulsum and Mustafa in the Aegean Sea, academic Salih Hosoglu, Nesrin Kisi, wife of torture victim Zabit Kisi, were among the speakers.