In recent developments, Amnesty International has issued a strong call to the Turkish authorities to halt the alleged unlawful use of force against demonstrators, amid ongoing protests sparked by the detention of opposition presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu. The protest actions, which have quickly spread across Turkey, have led to the arrests of 1,133 protesters and at least eight journalists, according to Amnesty’s findings.
The human rights organization has drawn attention to worrying reports of police using batons, pepper spray, tear gas, water cannons, and plastic bullets against peaceful demonstrators. The AI Secretary General Agnès Callamard noted that such actions have resulted in numerous injuries and hospitalizations. Callamard has called for an immediate investigation into these incidents. Further details about Amnesty’s concerns can be explored here.
Moreover, Amnesty accused the Turkish government of attacking freedom of expression by restricting access to social media and news websites. It reported that over 700 Twitter accounts belonging to journalists, activists, and opposition figures have been blocked. Additionally, protest bans are in place in three cities, further stifling expressions of dissent.
Callamard has urged the Turkish authorities to “respect and protect the right to peaceful assembly” and called for the lifting of blanket protest bans and the immediate release of those detained for exercising their rights to free expression and peaceful protest.
The protests erupted following the arrest of İmamoğlu, who is also the mayor of Istanbul and a prominent member of the opposing Republican People’s Party (CHP), on corruption charges. Amnesty’s report coincides with ongoing concerns regarding Turkey’s use of incarceration for political motives, with Human Rights Watch also weighing in on the situation. More details on Human Rights Watch’s perspective can be found here.
To explore the details of the European Court of Human Rights’ past rulings against Turkey, such as the immediate release directive for Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtaş in 2020, readers can review more information here.