Turkey Country Report
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Reports on Human Rights Issues
About Stockholm Center for Freedom Stockholm Center for Freedom (SCF) is a non-profit advocacy organization that promotes the rule of law, democracy and human rights with a special focus on Turkey. SCF was set up by a group of journalists who have been forced to live in self-exile in Sweden against the backdrop of a massive crackdown on press freedom in Turkey. SCF is committed to serving as a reference source by providing a broader picture of rights violations in Turkey, monitoring daily developments, documenting individual cases of the infringement of fundamental rights and publishing comprehensive reports on human rights issues. SCF is a member of the Alliance Against Genocide, an international coalition dedicated to creating the international institutions and the political will to prevent genocide. 1 Contents* 1. Introduction 3 2. Crackdown on the Gülen movement 4 3. Crackdown on the Kurdish political movement 20 4. Minority and refugee rights 24 5. Press freedom 29 6. Torture and inhuman treatment 34 7. Women’s rights 39 * Subject matters are listed in alphabetical order 2 1. Introduction This report highlights the most important developments in the area of human rights in Turkey during the year 2020. Rising pressure on the Kurdish political movement, the crackdown on the Gülen movement, the arrest of journalists and deteriorating press freedom, the spread of hate speech and hate crimes targeting ethnic and religious minorities and refugees, systematic torture and ill-treatment and an increase in rights violations against women were the defining topics of the year. Turkey has been experiencing a deepening human rights crisis over the past seven years. -
NETHERLANDS HELSINKI COMMITTEE Riviervismarkt 4 2513 AM the Hague Netherlands +31 (0) 70 392 67 00 [email protected]
Currently we find ourselves in an environment in Turkey where international human rights and constitutional regulations are violated every day. This also directly affects the right of defence, one of the right to fundamental principles of the right to a fair trial. In recent years, emergency decrees, issued during the State of Emergency period (following the 2016 coup attempt), have continued to be applied or were eventually enacted into law. A consequence of this is the gradual shrinking of space for defence to the point of its near complete removal, despite it being one of the founding elements of justice. Increasingly, lawyers began to be accused and convicted for being ‘members of terrorist organisations,’ especially in connection to the defendants they defended. A DEFENSELESS DEFENSE AUTHOR Faruk Eren (Except for the Foreword and the Introduction) TRANSLATOR Sebastian Heuer DESIGN BEK HAFIZA MERKEZİ Ömer Avni Mahallesi İnönü Caddesi Akar Palas No:14 Kat:1 Beyoğlu 34427 Istanbul TR +90 212 243 32 27 [email protected] www.hafiza-merkezi.org A DEFENSELESS ASSOCIATION FOR MONITORING EQUAL RIGHTS (AMER) Gümüşsuyu, Ağa Çırağı Sk. Pamir Apt. No:7/1, DEFENSE Beyoğlu 34437 İstanbul +90 212 293 63 77 – 0501 212 72 77 [email protected] [email protected] www.esithaklar.org NETHERLANDS HELSINKI COMMITTEE Riviervismarkt 4 2513 AM The Hague Netherlands +31 (0) 70 392 67 00 [email protected] www.nhc.nl With The Contribution of: LAWYERS FOR LAWYERS Nieuwe Achtergracht 164 1018 WV Amsterdam Netherlands +31(0) 20 717 16 38 [email protected] www.lawyersforlawyers.org FOREWORD This report was prepared within the scope of a joint project by the Association for Monitoring Equal Rights (Eşit Haklar İçin İzleme Derneği – EŞHİD), Netherlands Helsinki Committee (NHC) and Truth Justice Memory Center (Hafıza Merkezi), which aims to increase support for human rights defenders (HRDs) in Turkey. -
Report on Imprisoned Journalists
REPUBLICAN PEOPLE’S PARTY REPORT ON IMPRISONED JOURNALISTS WORLD’S BIGGEST PRISON FOR JOURNALISTS: TURKEY NURETTİN DEMİR VELİ AĞBABA ÖZGÜR ÖZEL MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT (MUĞLA) MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT (MALATYA) MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT (MANİSA) REPUBLICAN PEOPLE’S PARTY PRISON EXAMINATION AND WATCH COMMISSION REPORT ON IMPRISONED JOURNALISTS WORLD’S BIGGEST PRISON FOR JOURNALISTS: TURKEY NURETTİN DEMİR VELİ AĞBABA ÖZGÜR ÖZEL MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT (MUĞLA) (MALATYA) (MANİSA) CONTENTS PREFACE, Ercan İPEKÇİ, General Chairman of the Union of Journalists in Turkey ....... 3 1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 11 2. JOURNALISTS IN PRISON: OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS .................. 17 3. JOURNALISTS IN PRISON .......................................................................... 21 3.1 Journalists Put on Trial on Charges of Committing an Off ence against the State and Currently Imprisoned ................................................................................ 21 3.1.1Information on a Number of Arrested/Sentenced Journalists and Findings on the Reasons for their Arrest ........................................................................ 21 3.2 Journalists Put on Trial in Association with KCK (Union of Kurdistan Communities) and Currently Imprisoned .................................... 32 3.2.1Information on a Number of Arrested/Sentenced Journalists and Findings on the Reasons for their Arrest ....................................................................... -
Together Against Torture 26 June 2007
26 June 2007 Together against Torture The IRCT’s Global Report on the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims Table of Contents Together against Torture The International Rehabilitation Council for Tor- Preface by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 4 The IRCT’s Global Report on the ture Victims (IRCT) is an independent, international Introduction by the Secretary-General of the IRCT 5 United Nations International Day in health professional organisation, which promotes Support of Victims of Torture – 26 June 2007 and supports the rehabilitation of torture victims Campaign material 2007 6 © International Rehabilitation Council and works for the prevention of torture worldwide. for Torture Victims (IRCT) The vision of the IRCT is a world that values and ac- Anti-torture TV-spot 8 cepts shared responsibility for the eradication of IRCT torture. Campaign activities worldwide 10 Borgergade 13 P.O. Box 9049 The United Nations Convention against Torture 32 This publication was produced with the generous 1022 Copenhagen K - status of ratification Denmark support of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Join the 26 June 2008 campaign! 34 Phone: +45 33 76 06 00 The views expressed in this report can in no way Fax: +45 33 76 05 00 be taken to reflect the official opinion of the above How to support the IRCT 35 E-mail: [email protected] institutions. The country activities portrayed in this Website: www.irct.org report are based on the submission of reports as ISBN: 87-88882-13-1 received from campaign participants. -
Defining Turkey's Kurdish Question
Defining Turkey’s Kurdish Question: Discourse in the US Congress, The European Parliament and the Turkish Grand National Assembly, 1990-99 Hamid Akın Ünver A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Government University of Essex Date of submission November 2009 Winner 2010 Malcolm H. Kerr Award for the Best Dissertation in the Field of Social Sciences This Dissertation is Nominated by the University of Essex, Department of Government for the Following ECPR Categories The 2010 Jean Blondel PhD Prize for the Best Dissertation by a Scholar in an ECPR Member Institution. The 2010 Stein Rokkan Prize for Comparative Social Science Research Defining the Kurdish Question: Discourse in the US Congress, The European Parliament and The Turkish Grand National Assembly. Chapter 1 -- Defining the Kurdish question: Setting the Scene 1. Power, function and policy asymmetries: The US Congress, the EU Parliament and the Turkish Grand National Assembly……………………………………..…7 2. On the methodology of this work………………………………………………..11 2.1 Methodology step 1: Data collection………………………………………..…...14 2.2 Methodology step 2: Data evaluation……………………………………………16 Chapter 2 – Theoretical overview: The State, the non-State and political language 1. Philosophical aspects: The consciousness of the State and of the non- State.…………………………………………………………………………...…22 1.1 The State and power in politics: Machiavelli – Hobbes – Weber …………….23 1.2 Language of the ‘non-State’ and emancipation: Locke – Rousseau – Kant....31 2. Theoretical aspects: How does the consciousness of the State and emancipation materialize in politics? Enter discourse analysis………………………………...35 2.1 Limitation of the literature on ‘psychological factors’ in foreign policy…….36 2.2 When words establish power relations: Critical discourse analysis and identity conflicts…………………………………………………………………..……...40 2.3 On the methodology of the content chapters: The relationship between speech- act and discourse…………………………………………………………………………43 3. -
Country Report on Turkey
Asylum Research Centre Turkey: Country Report – Version 1 The situa�on in Turkey /shutterstock.com Seita 15 December 2016 (COI up to 7 October 2016) Cover photo © 15December 2016 (COI up to 7 October 2016) Turkey Country Report Explanatory Note Sources and databases consulted List of Acronyms CONTENTS 1. Main Developments since the attempted Coup d’état (July 2016) a. Overview of major legislative and political developments: i. Recent legislative developments incl. new amendments or decrees 1. State of Emergency 2. Emergency decrees a. Decree of 22 July 2016 (KHK/667) b. Decree of 25 July 2016 (KHK/668) c. Decree of 31 July 2016 (KHK/669) d. Decrees of 17 August 2016 (KHK/670 and 671) e. Decrees of 1 September 2016 (KHK/672, 673 and 674) f. Additional decrees passed g. Observations on the decrees by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights ii. Recent political developmentsin particular regarding changes affecting government structures: 1. Central Government 2. Political parties 3. Legal and judicial institutions 4. Civil service and government ministries 5. Educational institutions, including Universities 6. Hospitals / health care structures b. Overview of changes to the security forces: i. General information on the reported changes affecting the: 1. Police 2. Armed forces/Military 3. Intelligence services 4. Border guards/forces (incl. Gendarmerie) ii. Corruption withinthe security forces c. Impacts of the attempted Coup d’état on the socio-economic situation 2. Rule of law / Administration of Justice a. Access to justice i. Legal representation ii. Criminal justice system and access to fair trial iii. Due process and procedural guarantees (incl. -
Turkey by HAROLD RHODE Chapter 2
Ally No More Ally No More Erdoğan’s New Turkish Caliphate and the Rising Jihadist Threat to the West Center for Security Policy Press This book may be reproduced, distributed and transmitted for personal and non-commercial use. Contact the Center for Security Policy for bulk order information. For more information about this book, visit SECUREFREEDOM.ORG Ally No More: Erdoğan’s New Turkish Caliphate and the Rising Jihadist Threat to the West is published in the United States by the Center for Security Policy Press, a division of the Center for Security Policy. ISBN-13: ISBN978-1717071675-10: 1717071678 The Center for Security Policy Washington, D.C. Phone: 202-835-9077 Email: [email protected] For more information, visit SecureFreedom.org Book design by Bravura Books Contents Foreword ................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1 .................................................................................................... 5 How to Understand Erdoğan & His Neo-Ottoman Strategy to Destroy Ataturk’s Turkey BY HAROLD RHODE Chapter 2 .................................................................................................. 23 Turkey’s Partnership with the U.S. Muslim Brotherhood BY CENTER FOR SECURITY POLICY STAFF Chapter 3 .................................................................................................. 51 Gülen and Erdoğan: Partners on a Brotherhood Mission BY CLARE M. LOPEZ Chapter 4 ................................................................................................. -
Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2020
Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2020 Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2020 Nic Newman with Richard Fletcher, Anne Schulz, Simge Andı, and Rasmus Kleis Nielsen Supported by Surveyed by © Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism / Digital News Report 2020 4 Contents Foreword by Rasmus Kleis Nielsen 5 3.15 Netherlands 76 Methodology 6 3.16 Norway 77 Authorship and Research Acknowledgements 7 3.17 Poland 78 3.18 Portugal 79 SECTION 1 3.19 Romania 80 Executive Summary and Key Findings by Nic Newman 9 3.20 Slovakia 81 3.21 Spain 82 SECTION 2 3.22 Sweden 83 Further Analysis and International Comparison 33 3.23 Switzerland 84 2.1 How and Why People are Paying for Online News 34 3.24 Turkey 85 2.2 The Resurgence and Importance of Email Newsletters 38 AMERICAS 2.3 How Do People Want the Media to Cover Politics? 42 3.25 United States 88 2.4 Global Turmoil in the Neighbourhood: 3.26 Argentina 89 Problems Mount for Regional and Local News 47 3.27 Brazil 90 2.5 How People Access News about Climate Change 52 3.28 Canada 91 3.29 Chile 92 SECTION 3 3.30 Mexico 93 Country and Market Data 59 ASIA PACIFIC EUROPE 3.31 Australia 96 3.01 United Kingdom 62 3.32 Hong Kong 97 3.02 Austria 63 3.33 Japan 98 3.03 Belgium 64 3.34 Malaysia 99 3.04 Bulgaria 65 3.35 Philippines 100 3.05 Croatia 66 3.36 Singapore 101 3.06 Czech Republic 67 3.37 South Korea 102 3.07 Denmark 68 3.38 Taiwan 103 3.08 Finland 69 AFRICA 3.09 France 70 3.39 Kenya 106 3.10 Germany 71 3.40 South Africa 107 3.11 Greece 72 3.12 Hungary 73 SECTION 4 3.13 Ireland 74 References and Selected Publications 109 3.14 Italy 75 4 / 5 Foreword Professor Rasmus Kleis Nielsen Director, Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (RISJ) The coronavirus crisis is having a profound impact not just on Our main survey this year covered respondents in 40 markets, our health and our communities, but also on the news media. -
Digital Populism: Trolls and Political Polarization of Twitter in Turkey
International Journal of Communication 11(2017), 4093–4117 1932–8036/20170005 Digital Populism: Trolls and Political Polarization of Twitter in Turkey ERGİN BULUT Koç University, Turkey ERDEM YÖRÜK Koç University, Turkey University of Oxford, UK This article analyzes political trolling in Turkey through the lens of mediated populism. Twitter trolling in Turkey has diverged from its original uses (i.e., poking fun, flaming, etc.) toward government-led polarization and right-wing populism. Failing to develop an effective strategy to mobilize online masses, Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (JDP/AKP) relied on the polarizing performances of a large progovernment troll army. Trolls deploy three features of JDP’s populism: serving the people, fetish of the will of the people, and demonization. Whereas trolls traditionally target and mock institutions, Turkey’s political trolls act on behalf of the establishment. They produce a digital culture of lynching and censorship. Trolls’ language also impacts pro-JDP journalists who act like trolls and attack journalists, academics, and artists critical of the government. Keywords: trolls, mediated populism, Turkey, political polarization, Twitter Turkish media has undergone a transformation during the uninterrupted tenure of the ruling Justice and Development Party (JDP) since 2002. Not supported by the mainstream media when it first came to power, JDP created its own media army and transformed the mainstream media’s ideological composition. What has, however, destabilized the entire media environment was the Gezi Park protests of summer 2013.1 Activists’ use of social media not only facilitated political organizing, but also turned the news environment upside down. Having recognized that the mainstream media was not trustworthy, oppositional groups migrated to social media for organizing and producing content. -
4.2.Mass Communication Tools and Social Media
KONDA Barometer THEMES The Impact of Mass Communication Tools and Social Media April 2016 CONTENTS 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................ 4 2. THE IMPACT OF MASS COMMUNICATION TOOLS AND SOCIAL MEDIA ..... 6 2.1. Penetration of the Internet and the Actual Status of Social Media Use ... 7 2.2. Mass Communication Tools and Internet Use ......................................... 10 2.3. Social Media Use ........................................................................................ 23 2.4. Individuals Who Meet With People They Have Met Online...................... 36 2.5. Online Violence Victims .............................................................................. 37 2.6. Main Source/Medium of Receiving News ................................................ 40 2.7. Online Shopping and Habits ...................................................................... 45 2.8. Main Mass Communication Tools: TV and the Newspaper ..................... 51 2.9. Opinions About the Internet ....................................................................... 59 2.10.Conclusion & Evaluation .......................................................................... 73 3. RESEARCH ID .............................................................................................. 76 3.1. Overall Description of the Survey .............................................................. 76 3.2. The Sample ................................................................................................ -
Re-Reading Dynamics of the City of Istanbul Through Critical Mapping
Gazi University Journal of Science GU J Sci 29(2):403-412 (2016) Re-Reading Dynamics of The City of Istanbul Through Critical Mapping Demet MUTMAN1, 1 Maltepe University, Faculty of Architecture and Design, 34857 Maltepe Istanbul, Turkey Received: 18/04/2016 Revised:21/04/2016 Accepted: 26/04/2016 ABSTRACT The aim of this paper is to re-read and define differentiating layers of the city of Istanbul through critical mappings as an interrogative socio-spatial research. Through this form of a new city read, information on daily urban and social practices, global impacts and urban and economic effects of consumption over space would be exposed among five different thematic constellations rooted from Guy Debord's The Society of the Spectacle. The author aims to clarify socio-spatial constellations over space, time and current trends by deconstructing the current city formation of Istanbul. Key words: Critical mapping, Istanbul, socio-spatial research 1. INTRODUCTION Maps have been used to represent the urban environment as only geographical conditions, but a hidden socio-political well as the representational structure of a city from information as a tool of a hegemonic strategy. geographical maps and measurements of ancient Babylon, Syria and Palestine, to the topographical representations Through this article maps as strategic tools of the ideology and cadastral maps that were developed by Egyptians. will therefore be used as a potential to criticize a social and Romans developed city maps similar to today’s structure spatial environment by using the potential of its where the detailed construction plans for engineers and the representational techniques however reversing its formation of current city plans were developed. -
WHAT DOES TURKEY THINK? Edited by Dimitar Bechev
WHAT DOES TURKEY THINK? Edited by Dimitar Bechev The European Council on Foreign Relations does not take collective positions. This paper, like all publications of the European Council on Foreign Relations, represents only the views of its authors. The European Council on Foreign Relations does not take collective positions. This paper, like all publications of the European Council on Foreign Relations, represents only the views of its authors. Copyright of this publication is held by the European Council on Foreign Relations. You may not copy, reproduce, republish or circulate in any way the content from this publication except for your own personal and non-commercial use. Any other use requires the prior written permission of the European Council on Foreign Relations. © ECFR June 2011. ISBN: 978-1-906538-33-0 Published by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), 35 Old Queen Street, London, SW1H 9JA, United Kingdom [email protected] Contents Preface 5 Introduction 9 TURKEY’S MULTIPLE IDENTITIES 15 1. Mustafa Akyol 17 Who are the Turks? 2. Ays¸e Kadıog˘lu and Orhan Mirog˘lu 23 From oblivion to memory: Skeletons in the Turkish republican closet CHALLENGES FOR DEMOCRATIC CONSOLIDATION 29 3. S¸ahin Alpay 31 Will Turkey veer towards authoritarianism without the EU anchor? 4. Hakan Altinay 37 Moving parts 5. Osman Baydemir 43 The “we know best” democracy FOREIGN POLICY: CONTINUITY AND CHANGE 49 6. Ibrahim Kalın 51 Turkish foreign policy in 2011: an assessment 7. Atila Eralp and Zerrin Torun 57 Turkey-EU relations: just another impasse? 8. Suat Kınıklıog˘lu 63 Turkey’s neighbourhood policy: reintegration into multiple regions 9.