Turkey

Independent Legal Mission on the Peace Process in Türkiye

Press Statement Ankara, 27 February 2026 – Today, one year after Kurdistan Workers‘ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan issued a call for “Peace and a Democratic Society”, a 7-member independent international delegation concludes its first mission to observe legal developments in the ongoing peace process in Türkiye in relation to the Kurdish issue. The Independent …

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Joint Statement and Urgent Action – Türkiye: Lengthy prison sentences imposed on ÖHD lawyers and TUAD members for lawful professional and human rights work 

The undersigned international legal and human rights organisations strongly condemn the conviction and sentencing of ten lawyers who are members of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (Özgürlük İçin Hukukçular Derneği, ÖHD) and of 20 executives and staff of the Prisoners’ Families Solidarity Association (Tutuklu Aileleri ile Dayanışma Derneği, TUAD) by the Istanbul 14th Heavy Penal Court on 28 January 2026. The unjust sentences, …

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Under Attack for Defending Rights: The Criminalization of Lawyers in Turkey – 12 September 2025 at 7 pm EEST – in person in Lesvos and streamed online

Download invitation Register now: Registration link The Legal Centre Lesvos and European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights (ELDH) invite you to join the following panel—held in person and streamed online: Under Attack for Defending Rights: The Criminalization of Lawyers in Turkey When: Friday, 12 September 2025 at 7 pm EEST Where: …

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ELDH Supports Symbolic Disarmament and Democratic Transformation Led by the Kurdish Movement

Press Release – For Immediate Release Date: July 11, 2025, Location: Hasana Cave, Iraqi Kurdistan Download the statement The European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights (ELDH), represented by its Co-President Urko Aiartza, has participated as part of the international witness group at the symbolic destruction of arms ceremony held today in …

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Joint Statement on the Arrest and Detention of Lawyer Ruken Gülağacı – 21 May 2025

The undersigned bar associations and lawyers’ rights organisations express their deep concern over the detention of lawyer Ruken Gülağacı on 20 May 2025. On 21 May, the Criminal Peace Judgeship issued a house arrest order against Ms Gülağacı—an alarming escalation that further compounds our concern. Ms Gülağacı is a member of the Istanbul Bar Association …

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Preliminary statement condemning the Turkish state for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Rojava

THE TURKISH STATE IS COMMITTING CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY President: PERMANENT PEOPLES’ TRIBUNAL Vicepresidents: Secretary General: Download the full statement This is the preliminary statement of the panel of judges of the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal, 54th session, sitting in Brussels on 5 and 6 February 2025 to decide on the responsibility of senior Turkish officials for alleged …

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PERMANENT PEOPLES’ TRIBUNALON ROJAVA VS. TURKEY – 5 and 6 February 2025, Brussels

Since the onset of the Syrian conflict, the region of Rojava in North and East Syria has emerged as a pioneering model of inclusive governance, promoting democratic principles, peaceful coexistence, gender equality, cultural diversity, and social justice for diverse communities including Kurds, Arab, Yazidi, and Christian populations.However, since 2018, North and East Syria has faced …

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Joint Statement by the International Legal and Human Rights Community on the Actions Against the Istanbul Bar Association

The international legal and human rights community is deeply concerned by prosecuting authorities’ recent criminal investigation and lawsuit against the Istanbul Bar Association, particularly its President, İbrahim Kaboğlu, and the executive board. These actions stem from a statement issued by the Bar Association on 21 December 2024, drawing attention to the deaths of journalists Nazım …

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