The Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TIHV) and the Human Rights Association (IHD) made a joint declaration for December 10, Human Rights Day and shared data on violations of human rights that happened in Turkey in 2020. The rights organisations underlined that we are under global conditions of crises that have political, social, economical, ethical etc. dimensions affected by the pandemic as well on the 72nd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Here are some of the highlights of what the rights organisations have identified:
- Even though the Constitution as well as the universal law bans torture and even though it is a crime against humanity, torture has become one of the most common human rights issue in 2020 in Turkey. Torture and other mistreatments have gained a new dimension and intensity in Turkey and in the first 11 months of 2020, 573 people have applied to the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TIHV) in total due to having torture or other mistreatment.
- The political ruling’s restrictions against freedom of expression and thought that started with the declaration of the State of Emergency continued in 2020 with worryingly increasing pressure and control, especially against the press. According to the data of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TIHV), 62 press workers and 2 writers were detained in 11 months; 25 press workers were arrested. 253 journalists and press workers were prosecuted in 132 lawsuits filed against them and 32 journalists were sentenced to a total of 131 years, 8 months and 22 days of imprisonment and 14,660 TL penalty fine in concluded lawsuits. Investigations were started against 41 journalists. At least 28 people were detained and three people were arrested due to violating Article 299 of the Turkish Criminal Code (TCK) regulating the crime of insulting the President. Access bans were issued against 165 news articles, 862 websites, 10 social media accounts and 71 online content with court decrees. According to data by the Interior Ministry, 29,019 social media accounts were examined in total between the dates January 1, 2020 and November 1, 2020 and judicial actions were taken against 12,163 social media users.
- Just like the previous year, 2020 has become a year where restrictions and violations in terms of the freedom of meeting and demonstration became a rule and the use of such freedoms an exception. All protests and events were banned 115 times by Governorates and district Governorates in 35 provinces for at least a day and for 30 days the longest. The period of protest and event bans issued continuously by the Governorate in Van reached 4 years. According to the data by the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TIHV), at least 731 peaceful meetings and demonstrations were intervened, 1929 people were detained in 11 months and at least 2190 people were exposed to torture and mistreatment during such interventions according to the Human Rights Association (IHD).
Please click here for the full Human rights in Turkey with Data in 2020 report.
09.12.2020
ihd.org.tr