Öztürk Türkdoğan Should Be Released Immediately
19 March 2021
Human rights defenders have a pivotal role in protecting human rights around the world. Human rights defenders make a critical contribution to making the violations of the rights and freedoms of others visible and bringing the laws of states in line with international standards.
The greatest threats faced by the human rights defenders and lawyers are judicial proceedings and criminal investigations aimed at targeting their lawful and legitimate human rights activities, and in Turkey, such perilous practices are seen often and in a systematic manner.
The detention of Öztürk Türkdoğan, the co-chair of the Human Rights Association that was recently targeted from the lectern of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, is part of the attempt to silence human rights defenders, to break the confidence of civil society movement and to abuse the judicial process.
Human rights work is legitimate and cannot be criminalized.
Human rights defenders cannot be silenced!
The activities of human rights defenders are not criminal and cannot be subject to any arbitrary practice.
Öztürk Türkdoğan should be released immediately.
Association for Monitoring Equal Rights
Rights Initiative Association
Human Rights Association
Human Rights Agenda Association
Amnesty International Turkey Branch
Citizenship Association