Human rights associations organized a common press meeting on the indictments and allegations against Osman Kavala and 15 NGO representatives. The common press statement, read by Amnesty International Turkey Campaign-Advocacy Director Ruhat Sena Akşener, called for an end to criminalize the civil society as well as increasing pressure on the civil society against baseless allegations such as the ‘attempt to overthrow the government.’ The press declaration messaged that the rights advocates will be supported against all attacks they face.
It was further indicated that the lawsuits filed against the right advocates are used in order to silence them, underlining that the government is responsible of protecting all rights, including the freedom to peaceful meeting and organization as well as freedom of expression. Here are the NGOs signing the text, entitled, “We Stand Together Against the Attempt to Vanish Civil Society”: Civil Rights Defenders, Monitoring Association for Equal Rights, Rights Initiative Association, Truth Justice Memory Center, Human Rights Association, Human Rights Agenda Association, Reporters Without Borders, Human Rights Foundation of Turkey, Amnesty International and Citizenship Association.
27.02.2019
bianet.org