The memorandum is based on the continuous monitoring activities of the Commissioner and the Commissioner's Office, as well as information obtained from a variety of sources, including national and international civil society organisations, human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists and media representatives, including information from a series of online meetings held in February 2024. It was prepared on the basis of the information received.
"The hostile environment must end"
"The deterioration of freedom of expression in Turkey, characterised by numerous and blatant violations of human rights standards, has reached unprecedented levels and is a matter of grave concern," the article said. It said that this process has led to a practise of censorship that is spreading throughout society. While noting that the situation reveals "a barren, one-sided public debate", it emphasised that in order to correct the situation, a favourable environment should be created for the exercise of freedom of expression, media, association, assembly and demonstration.
"The right to peacefully assemble and demonstrate has also been seriously undermined by systematic bans, harsh police measures including the use of excessive force, mass arrests and frequent criminal proceedings against protesters. The bans particularly affect LGBTI people, women and environmentalists." They targeted events organised by or in support of these individuals. "The authorities should investigate all cases of excessive use of force against those who have taken part in peaceful demonstrations in recent years despite the bans. It is particularly regrettable that the International Women's Day march in Istanbul has been banned for the past eight years"
"The problems with the independence of the Turkish judiciary are becoming an existential threat"
In his letter, the Commissioner also highlighted the long-standing problems regarding the independence and impartiality of the Turkish judiciary and stated that these problems pose an existential threat to the rule of law and the human rights guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights.
"The Commissioner reiterates that the situation regarding the independence and impartiality of the judiciary currently poses an existential threat to the rule of law in Turkey and thus to the respect of all rights guaranteed by the ECHR. The numerous criminal investigations, trials, "arrests and convictions uncovered by the Court point to a widespread practise of abuse of judicial proceedings to silence human rights defenders and obstruct civil society activism."
The full memorandum on freedom of expression, media freedom and the situation of human rights defenders and civil society in Turkey can be read here.