The imprisonment of Turkish journalist and media executive Hidayet Karaca is one of the starkest examples of how journalism and creative expression have been criminalized. He was arrested not for an investigative report, editorial, or act of violence, but for a fictional television drama. Karaca’s case exposes how judicial systems can be manipulated to silence dissent and reshape the media landscape. His case before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) stands as a critical warning for press freedom advocates worldwide.

A Career in Journalism

Hidayet Karaca was born in 1963 in Cankiri, Turkey and he entered journalism in 1994 after completing his education in Istanbul. He rose steadily through the media ranks over the following decades, eventually became General Coordinator of Samanyolu TV and Chief Executive Officer of the Samanyolu Media Group which was one of Turkey’s most influential private media organizations at the time.

The group operated multiple television channels, radio stations, and print publications broadcasting in several languages under his leadership. Samanyolu outlets reached audiences both inside and outside Turkey and became known for adopting a critical stance toward government policy. Karaca’s prominence as a media executive placed him at the centre of Turkey’s public debate under the diminished independent journalism.

Arrest Over a Television Script

Karaca was arrested on 14 December 2014 during a coordinated police operation targeting journalists and media professionals. He was accused of membership in a terrorist organization, despite no allegation that he possessed weapons, used violence, or directed armed activity.

The primary evidence against him was a fictional crime drama named Sefkat Tepe, broadcasted on Samanyolu TV in 2013. Prosecutors argued that a storyline involving a radical group constituted a covert operation designed to manipulate public opinion and justify earlier security actions. So, a television script was treated as criminal evidence!

However, the series had been approved in advance by Turkey’s media regulator, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) and this fact was ignored by the court and the prosecution. Therefore, a fictional narrative reinterpreted as psychological warfare and proof of criminal intent. Later, other accusations such as document forgery or manipulation of investigations were added to his case, but they were not supported by concrete evidence directly linking Karaca to operational acts.

Detention and Punitive Sentences

Karaca spent years in prolonged pre-trial detention, and he was later placed in solitary confinement, where he spent more than eight years. His family repeatedly raised concerns about his health and the psychological toll of extended isolation.

His legal ordeal expanded into multiple trials resulted in a series of extraordinarily severe sentences, including a 31-year prison term and an aggravated life sentence. Although Turkish law limits the effective length of imprisonment, the symbolic weight of these penalties underscored the punitive nature of the prosecutions. In 2024, Turkey’s Supreme Court annulled the aggravated life sentence due to procedural flaws while other convictions remained in force.

On 16 May 2023, Hidayet Karaca’s case reviewed before the European Court of Human Rights. In Karaca v. Turkey (Application No. 20661/15), the Court decided that Turkey had violated Karaca’s rights under the European Convention on Human Rights. The Court found violations of unlawful detention, excessive pre-trial detention, and lack of effective judicial review under Article 5.

The ECtHR concluded that Karaca’s detention was based largely on speculation and association, not concrete evidence, and that it lasted for more than three years without meaningful judicial scrutiny. Turkey was ordered to pay €18,000 in damages.

An Ongoing Struggle

While the ECtHR ruling acknowledged serious violations of Karaca’s rights, it did not end his imprisonment. He has since filed a second application before the Court challenging the fairness of his conviction under the right to a fair trial. As of 2025, that case remains pending. Karaca has now spent more than 11 years in prison, making him one of Turkey’s longest-detained media figures.

Political Climate and Media Repression

Karaca’s detention occurred during a period of political transformation in Turkey, where executive control and a systematic crackdown on critical voices was increasing. Independent media outlets were closed, seized, or placed under trusteeship, while journalists faced prosecution under broadly defined anti-terror laws.

In the years following Karaca’s arrest, hundreds of journalists were investigated or imprisoned and approximately 200 media outlets were shut down. Turkey’s ranking in global press freedom indices plummeted, reflecting the rapid erosion of protections for free expression. Journalism was no longer treated as a democratic safeguard but as a perceived security threat.

Why His Case Matters

Hidayet Karaca’s imprisonment for a fictional television script is not a legal anomaly, but it is a symbol of how expression can be retroactively criminalized when judicial systems lose independence. When storytelling is treated as terrorism and journalism as treason, democratic safeguards erode rapidly.

Karaca v Turkey is more than a court case. It is a reminder that the freedom to write, broadcast, and imagine is inseparable from the rule of law, and that when those freedoms are suppressed, democracy itself is placed at risk.

BY BEYZA DENIZ

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.

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.”

Today marks the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a landmark document created in 1948 to protect the dignity and equality of all people. Born from the horrors of World War II, it was a commitment to prevent such tragedies and affirm the non-negotiable rights of every individual.

Yet, 76 years later, the gap between these ideals and reality remains vast. Wars continue, torture persists, and the rights of women, children, minorities, and refugees are still violated daily. Even in Western countries, which led the declaration, human rights violations endure, and globally, the situation in many nations is even more dire.

One year after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, which resulted in over 44,000 deaths and widespread destruction in Gaza, the conflict’s impacts endure.

For 76 years, Palestinians have faced apartheid and crimes against humanity by Israel, enduring systematic discrimination. Decades of oppression and displacement have stripped Palestinians of their rights and marginalized their culture, in violation of international law.

A year of continuous violence in Gaza and Israel, without a meaningful ceasefire, has intensified the suffering of millions. Meanwhile, accountability for these atrocities remains virtually nonexistent.

United Kingdom and Europe

• In 2024, strict border policies targeting migrants and refugees persisted across the United Kingdom and Europe, resulting in 315 lives lost in the English Channel alone.
• Across Europe, reports of pushbacks and mistreatment of refugees remain widespread.
• Violations of digital freedom of expression are rising, with thousands of individuals’ privacy compromised by data security breaches.

United States

• Police violence with racial undertones continues, echoing tragic incidents like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, while Black and Latino individuals remain disproportionately incarcerated.
• Children are still forcibly separated from their families at the border, with migrants held in harsh detention conditions.

Turkey

• Over the past eight years, approximately 2 million people in Turkey have faced terrorism investigations based on unfounded accusations, with hundreds of thousands imprisoned.
• As of 2023, Turkey remains one of the highest violators in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), with over 4,000 convictions.
• Despite this, Turkey continues to disregard ECHR rulings, with 65 journalists imprisoned and hundreds of human rights defenders facing legal pressure.
• More than 300 women are killed annually in gender-based violence cases.

China

• UN data reveals that over 1.8 million Uyghur Turks are detained in “re-education camps” in East Turkestan.
• The systematic suppression of religious freedoms and cultural heritage continues in Tibet.
• In 2024, over 40 multinational companies faced criticism for involvement in forced labor practices in China.

Russia

• Over 20,000 people were detained for participating in anti-war protests.
• 80% of independent media outlets were either shut down or labeled as “foreign agents.”
• Conditions for LGBTQ+ individuals have worsened, with over 500 people prosecuted under “propaganda laws.” 

India

• In 2023, over 200 religion-based hate crimes were reported, revealing widespread discrimination against minority groups.
• Women face an average of 87 sexual assault cases daily.
• Muslim communities endure systematic threats, including displacement and loss of citizenship rights.

Iran

• The women’s rights movement gained momentum after the death of Mahsa Amini, yet over 800 female protesters were detained in 2024.
• More than 600 lives were lost during protests.
• Women continue to endure severe consequences for demanding basic rights and freedoms.

Afghanistan

• Under Taliban rule, women’s rights to education have been fully stripped away, leaving over 1 million women without access to university education in 2024.
• 80% of journalists have either been forced to leave their profession or flee the country.

Myanmar

• The systematic ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims continues. According to the UN, 1 million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh live in dire, inhumane conditions.

Syria and Yemen

• In Syria, the ongoing civil war has displaced nearly 14 million people.
• In Yemen, 2.2 million children face the risk of death from hunger and malnutrition.

Today, humanity faces one of its most critical tests in the ongoing struggle for rights. Human rights are not a distant dream but an urgent and unshakable responsibility that demands our attention now. The fundamental dignity of millions hangs in the balance, and we must not wait for a global catastrophe to rediscover our shared humanity.

We are not naive optimists. We are determined individuals, strategically and resolutely committed to defending human dignity. Rights are not privileges granted from above; they are shared values earned and protected through continuous struggle. As Martin Luther King Jr. so powerfully reminded us, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

We must unite to protect children in conflict, ensuring they are valued, safe, and given a chance for brighter future. Since October 2023, nearly 8,000 children have been killed in the Israel-Gaza conflict. Over 390 bodies, including women and children, have been found at Nasser and Al Shifa hospitals, showing signs of torture and executions. The blockade restricts essential services, worsening poverty and malnutrition among children. Nearly 70% of Gaza’s war dead are women and children, with 44% of victims being children and 26% women. The most affected age group is five to nine years old.

In Xinjiang, Uyghur children face forced labor, indoctrination, and family separation under Chinese government policies. Many are placed in state-run orphanages or boarding schools, cutting ties with their cultural, religious, and linguistic roots and causing severe psychological harm. They are pressured to learn Mandarin, and they have little to no Uyghur language education, eroding their identity.

Xinjiang, officially the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), is a Northwestern region of China where Uyghurs, a Turkic-speaking, primarily Muslim ethnic group, form a significant population.

Uyghurs detained in “re-education camps” are often forced into labor. From 2017 to 2019, at least 80,000 Uyghurs were moved under the government’s “Xinjiang Aid” program, which claims to provide jobs but appears to exploit Uyghur lives. Factories linked to brands like Nike, Apple, and Zara have been reported to use this forced labor. These actions may qualify as “crimes against humanity” under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Many Uyghurs endure indefinite detention, family separation, and heavy surveillance, including non-consensual collection of biometric data. Fear, restricted freedoms, and the loss of connection with loved ones mark life in Xinjiang.

The Ukraine-Russia conflict has claimed the lives of 1,957 children since 2022, with close to 2,000 injured. The war has disrupted education, healthcare, and protection services, causing widespread trauma and displacement. Millions of children experience loss, fear, anxiety, and psychological symptoms like panic attacks, flashbacks, and depression.

Over 7 million children have been affected by violence, family loss, displacement, and disrupted education. Tens of thousands have been forcibly transferred to Russian-occupied territories or deported to Russia and Belarus. Some are placed in Russian families, given new identities, or sent to “camps” for “patriotic education.” Efforts to return these children to Ukraine are obstructed by Russia, with fewer than 2% successfully reunited with their families.

Yemen’s civil war, ongoing since 2014, has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Thousands of children have died from malnutrition, disease, and violence, with 9.8 million in need of humanitarian assistance. Child soldiers are often forced into armed groups, and severe food insecurity affects millions of children.

The conflict has displaced 4.5 million people, over 75% of whom are women and children. Female-led households account for 26% of the displaced, with 20% of these heads of households under 18. Malnutrition is rampant, with 1.3 million pregnant or breastfeeding women requiring treatment for acute malnutrition.

An estimated 17.3 million people are food insecure, including 5 million children under five. Despite ongoing aid, conflict, economic instability, and weather challenges continue to worsen the crisis. Around 80% of Yemen’s population lives below the poverty line, with 21 million people, including 11.3 million children, requiring humanitarian aid.

Turkey faces criticism for its treatment of children living in prisons with their mothers, including over 759 children in adult facilities, 520 of whom are under six. These children endure unsafe, overcrowded, and unsanitary conditions, lacking access to adequate food, healthcare, and education.

Prison environments are ill-suited for children, with limited provisions such as toys, crayons, or safe spaces for infants. Many children share beds and meals with their mothers. Social and cultural isolation further harms their physical and mental well-being, making reintegration into society challenging.

Emotional tolls are severe, with many children experiencing breakdowns during or after prison visits. The situation highlights systemic neglect of children’s rights in these settings.

Since the Taliban’s return in 2021, Afghan children, especially girls, face restricted rights. Girls are banned from secondary education, leaving 3.7 million children out of school, 60% of whom are girls. Today marks 1,000 days since Afghan girls last attended school beyond the primary level, making Afghanistan the only country with such bans.

Economic crises have pushed many children into child labor or forced marriages. Teachers, especially women, face job losses, irregular pay, and restrictions, further destabilizing education. Child recruitment into armed groups and limited healthcare access worsen the plight of Afghan children amid severe food insecurity affecting millions.

Children face multiple threats, including recruitment into armed groups, sexual violence, and catastrophic hunger. Our message is clear: we must take concerted, collective action to turn back the tide of brutality and indifference and to ensure that children in conflict are better protected, valued, and given a chance for a brighter future.

BY AZRA OZCAN

At the Women’s Day march in London, thousands of people, including HRS volunteers in purple raincoats and masks, demanded justice. The London march for International Women’s Day took place on Saturday 9 March this year. Thousands of women took part in the march, which started on Oxford Street and ended in Trafalgar Square. Organised by Million Women Rise, the event is supported by all associations or foundations working in the field of women’s rights in the UK.

As in the previous 3 years, Human Rights Solidarity (HRS) Women’s Rights Committee members were also present at the march, which is known as the ‘world’s biggest women’s rights’ event. HRS Women’s Committee participated in the march with an interesting concept this year. About 40 HRS volunteer women wore purple raincoats and white masks on their faces. On the masks were written the names of women who were arrested in Turkey despite being sick, pregnant or having babies.

HRS volunteers also carried placards expressing the problems of all women who have been subjected to injustice or persecution. For example, there were banners written in Kurdish to draw attention to the injustice suffered by Kurdish women in Turkey, including one with the name of former MP Huda Kaya, who is currently in detention. There were also banners drawing attention to the current ‘genocide’ in Gaza, the war in Ukraine and the persecution of Uyghur people.

Throughout the march, women drew attention to the fact that more than 9,000 women have been killed in Gaza and frequently chanted slogans calling for an immediate ceasefire. The women also emphasised the need for governments to take more measures to end male violence.

HRS Women’s Committee Chair Ceyda Betul Kemanci made the following statement about the event: “As HRS, we participate in this important march with a different concept every year. Last year, we marched with a platform with a woman and child mannequin that we placed in a boat to explain the problems experienced by those who had to flee from Meric River due to unlawful behaviour in Turkey. This year we wore purple raincoats to represent women’s rights. There are also many women who are unjustly and unlawfully imprisoned in Turkey. In order to make their voices heard, we wore masks with the names of women, especially those who are sick, pregnant or with babies. We demanded an immediate end to these atrocities. We demanded that the ECtHR’s Yalcinkaya judgement be implemented without further delay. We demanded an end to the systematic torture and that those responsible be punished.

At the rally organised in Trafalgar Square where the march ended, speeches were made in line with the general concept of the march. Those who took the floor raised the voices of all girls and women who had been subjected to violence and expressed that they could put an end to male violence together. The demand for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza was also voiced here.

We demand an end to the killing of women, especially in Gaza, and to violence against women around the world. The main theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘Inspire Inclusion’, which emphasises the importance of diversity and empowerment in all areas of society. This also emphasises the vital role of inclusion in achieving gender equality. A key pillar of the theme is the promotion of diversity in leadership and decision-making positions. Women, especially those belonging to underrepresented groups, continue to face barriers when seeking leadership or representation roles. As we mark International Women’s Day 2024, we reaffirm our commitment to building a world where all women are empowered, valued and included in decision-making. By working together to break down barriers and promote diversity, we can build a more equitable and inclusive society for future generations.

However, we regret to remind you that today there is another problem that is much more important than women’s participation in social life: Not being able to keep them alive. Sadly, on 7 October last year, many innocent women were killed in a terrorist attack on Israel by a group affiliated with HAMAS, which rules Gaza. In addition, HAMAS is still holding many hostages, including women. Israel responded to this attack with a very violent war. The Israeli army bombed many civilian centres, including hospitals, and unfortunately more than 9,000 innocent Palestinian women were killed in 5 months. What is more tragic is that the world, states and international organisations have failed to stop this ‘genocide’. ‘Humanity’ should not remain so helpless while women and children are being brutally killed! On the occasion of International Women’s Day, we once again make an urgent appeal to all responsible persons and authorities: Stop this massacre, this ‘genocide’ as soon as possible!

Afghanistan is in the third year of Taliban rule and women’s basic rights are being restricted day by day. Women summarise their situation as “We are alive but not living.” In 2023, the Taliban introduced new restrictions on women and girls. Some of these are as follows: Women and girls are banned from receiving education from the 6th grade onwards, and in some areas they are not allowed to attend any school after the age of 10. Women’s work in national and international NGOs was suspended. Beauty centres were closed and women were banned from using gyms. In addition, women who do not wear the headscarf, as demanded by the Taliban, are arrested. It is our responsibility to stand in solidarity with Afghan women and ensure that they regain their basic rights.

In Iran, a new veiling law came into force in 2023, imposing up to 10 years in prison for women who dress ‘indecently’. Tens of thousands of women have had their cars confiscated as punishment for defying this ban. Others have been prosecuted, sentenced to flogging or imprisonment, or faced other penalties such as fines or ‘attending moral classes’. Some have been threatened with death or sexual violence. We demand that the Iranian government respect the rights of women and girls and take immediate action to stop this persecution.

Turkey has not performed well on women’s rights in recent years and the situation has worsened since 2021. Turkey withdrew from the Istanbul Convention, which it signed in 2011, by presidential decree in March 2021. This encourages impunity for crimes against women. For example, 334 women were killed by men in 2022, rising to 438 last year. In addition, for the last 10 years the Turkish government has been using ‘anti-terrorism laws’, which are not compatible with the ECHR, to silence dissent in the country. According to official statistics, nearly 100,000 women have been prosecuted under these laws since 2015 and more than 50,000 of them have been arrested. Some of those still in detention have not been released, despite the ECtHR’s ‘violation of rights’ judgement in 2023. Prisons in Turkey are overcrowded and women prisoners are subjected to inhuman treatment, including sexual harassment, strip searches and psychological torture. Sick, pregnant, infant and elderly women continue to be held in prisons in violation of the law. The international community should press the Turkish government to ensure that women and girls from vulnerable populations are provided with the support and resources they need to rebuild their lives.

The ongoing Russian occupation and war in Ukraine continues to have a devastating impact on women. According to UN figures, 80 per cent of the approximately 8.5 million displaced Ukrainians are women and girls. These women are often the targets of violence and sexual abuse. Tens of thousands of Ukrainian women serve alongside men in the army. Women who are not on the front line are under mental and physical pressure to care for their families and rebuild their lives. We must do everything we can to support women in Ukraine and ensure that their voices are heard.

We should not forget the impact on women of the restrictions on immigration imposed by Western countries. Many women are forced to leave home and family behind in search of a better life, only to face discrimination and hardship in their new countries. We must call on governments to do more to support these women and provide the resources they need to thrive.

On the other hand, the digital divide is greater for women and they are victimised by new forms of online violence and harassment. It is crucial to ensure that these technologies incorporate a human rights-first approach and prioritise the protection of women and girls on their platforms.

In conclusion, as we celebrate International Women’s Day, we have to remember that gender equality and women’s participation in decision-making and representation mechanisms is not a privilege but a fundamental human right. We must realise that we cannot achieve equality without eliminating gender-based violence. We must also recognise that no society can reach its full potential if half of its population is left behind.

On this day, we call on governments and other national and international organisations to take immediate action to address the many challenges and injustices faced by women around the world. Only then can we build a more just and equitable world for all.

Our report ‘Preventing and Combating Violence against Women with Disabilities in the UK, EU and Turkey’ is submitted to PACE. We are proud to submit our report on “Preventing and Combating Violence against Women with Disabilities in the UK, EU and Turkey” to the Committee on Equality and Anti-Discrimination in the PACE and UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls. This comprehensive report aims to shed light on the pressing issue of violence against women with disabilities in different countries.

The report, which has been meticulously compiled through rigorous research and consultation, underscores the urgent need for measures to address and eliminate the violence faced by women with disabilities. It highlights the unique challenges they encounter and provides recommendations to the PACE on policy frameworks, awareness campaigns, and support systems.

We firmly believe that this report will contribute significantly to advancing the dialogue and actions surrounding this critical issue within PACE and beyond.

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.

The report on the systematic torture of dissidents by state agents in Turkey has been turned into an animated film. Human Rights Solidarity (HRS) and London Advocacy (LA) have produced short animated films based on the report on the systematic torture of opposition groups in Turkey. One of the videos, posted on HRS’s YouTube channel, tells women being tortured, while the other shows men being tortured.

The report, entitled “Systematic torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in places of detention in Turkey”, was published last February and submitted to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in March. The report reveals the widespread use of torture by Turkish law enforcement since 15 July 2016, when the fundamental rights and freedoms of Turkish citizens were put on the back burner.

You can access the videos by clicking on the links below: 

A Female Victim Statement                       A Male Victim Statement