For the fourth year in a row, we are gathering in front of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on June, to raise our voices once again for the millions oppressed in Turkey. Each year, this gathering grows stronger—louder and more determined. This year, we will be calling out with even greater resolve: “Justice for all.” As fundamental rights continue to be systematically violated in Turkey, we are returning to Strasbourg to once again urge the Council of Europe to take concrete and effective action.
We are back in Strasbourg because when rulings of the European Court of Human Rights are ignored, it shows that the rule of law has become an empty phrase and that fundamental rights no longer enjoy real protection. Judgments confirming the rights violations of Osman Kavala and Selahattin Demirtaş—both imprisoned for years—have been dismissed by Turkish authorities. The Yalçınkaya ruling, which exposed the mass criminalization of over 100,000 people, is likewise being ignored. We are witnessing, day by day, how political pressure has overtaken judicial independence in Turkey. This blatant disregard for the law cannot go unchallenged. If we are serious about justice for all, it must begin with enforcing ECtHR decisions.
We are here again because democracy begins with respecting the will of the people — yet in Turkey, that will is routinely violated. The politically driven conviction of Ekrem İmamoğlu, the elected Mayor of Istanbul, the removal of opposition mayors and their replacement with government-appointed trustees, the targeting of municipal employees, the silencing of journalists who report on these injustices, and the violent response to peaceful protests — all reveal that democratic processes in Turkey are no longer functioning. The public’s right to choose is ignored. The right to access accurate information is blocked. Even rulings recognizing the rights violations of elected MP Can Atalay remain unenforced. Under the shadow of entrenched authoritarianism, there can be no real democracy — and without democracy, there can be no justice for all.
We are once again in Strasbourg because individual liberty and security are being systematically denied in Turkey. With a judiciary shaped by political influence and law enforcement acting under government orders, the legal system has become a tool to silence dissent. Despite the European Court of Human Rights’ clear statement in the Yalçınkaya judgment — that “there can be no crime or punishment without law” — dozens of people continue to be arbitrarily detained each day under accusations of membership in the Gülen Movement. Baseless terrorism charges are now reaching even children — particularly young girls. Kurdish political activists and journalists are detained for so-called “terror propaganda” after making public statements. Journalists critical of the government face prosecution for “spreading disinformation,” while students protesting peacefully are charged with “insulting the president.” We cannot remain silent in the face of this climate of fear and repression. Justice for all is impossible without law enforcement that respects the law and a judiciary free from political control.
We are returning once again — because we demand justice. And we demand it now. We say, “Justice delayed is justice denied.” Despite the Yalçınkaya judgment, at least 6,503 more individuals* have been deprived of their liberty under the same baseless charges. Those imprisoned are often denied adequate medical care, while their families face social exclusion, stigma, and deep economic hardship. When such injustices go unaddressed, the suffering only deepens.
In Turkey, a highly politicized judiciary offers no real path to justice. And yet, the international agreements that Turkey has ratified still stand as a crucial safeguard for tens of thousands living under authoritarian pressure. To keep that hope alive, we raise our voices once more and address the Council of Europe:
Fulfil your mandate to uphold the European Convention on Human Rights. Remind Turkey of its binding commitments — and take meaningful action to ensure they are met.
On June, we will gather in front of the Council of Europe, joined by thousands of voices, to make this call impossible to ignore.
* Number of individuals detained on allegations of membership in the Gülen movement between the date of the ECtHR Yalçınkaya judgment (26 September 2023) and the date this text was written (29 April 2025). Source: https://turkeyrightsmonitor.com/tr/kitlesel-gozaltilar
