Turkey is in the midst of a massive state crackdown on protest, following the arrest of Istanbul’s Republican People’s Party (CHP) mayor and presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu.
Fifteen human rights and media freedom watchdogs published a joint statement calling on the Turkish state to immediately stop attacks on peaceful protesters, cease the targeting of journalists and news channels, and halt repression of freedom of speech online. The rights watchdogs include Human Rights Watch, PEN International, Amnesty International and Article 19.
The NGOs noted that “Tens of thousands continue to participate in overwhelmingly peaceful mass protests across Türkiye, marking the largest demonstrations in over a decade,” and that Turkish police have responded with “unlawful and indiscriminate force”. On top of this, journalists have been arrested and deported, and online platforms have faced censorship.
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The human rights organisations called on the Turkish government to respect freedom of expression and assembly:
“The government must immediately cease its attacks against peaceful protesters, stop targeting journalists and news channels, and halt its crackdown on online speech. We also urge social media companies to take immediate steps to restore access to blocked accounts containing protected speech while implementing necessary measures to ensure continued accessibility of their platforms.”
As of 26 March, 1,879 people were detained during the protests according to the Ministry of the Interior. The rights groups pointed out that the district mayors of Şişli and Beylikdüzü are also facing charges.
“The protests were met with unwarranted and unlawful use of police force, with people beaten with batons and kicked when they were on the ground. Law enforcement officials indiscriminately used pepper spray, tear gas, plastic bullets and water cannons against protesters, causing numerous injuries.”
They continued:
“We remind Turkish authorities that they have obligations under international human rights law to respect and ensure everyone’s right to freedom of peaceful assembly. Any restrictions to this right must be narrowly drawn and meet the three-part test. Specifically, they must be prescribed by law, pursue a legitimate aim, and be necessary and proportionate to that aim. Blanket bans on protests are disproportionate and unjustifiable. Additionally, we strongly condemn the use of force against peaceful protesters. The use of force by law enforcement officials must be strictly necessary and proportionate. Only the minimum force necessary may be used, and those who use force must always be accountable. We call on the authorities to ensure that any allegations of unlawful use of force and other human rights violations by law enforcement officials, including gender-based violence, torture and other ill-treatment inflicted on protesters, are subject to an effective, impartial and timely investigation.”
Arrests of journalists
At least 11 journalists have been arrested since 19 March, 10 of whom report physical assaults. Additionally, BBC correspondent Mark Lowen was detained and later deported on the grounds that he was a ‘threat to public order’.
The rights groups criticised Turkey’s Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) who, on 27 March, issued fines and suspensions to Halk TV, SCZ TV, Tele 1, and Now TV.
They called on Turkey and RTÜK to respect press freedom:
“We call on Türkiye, and specifically RTÜK, to immediately stop these media freedom violations and create an environment that allows the media to provide the public with necessary information and to report on events free from state pressure. Intimidating journalists to disseminate only government-approved content undermines the core principles of independent journalism. We also reiterate that journalists and other observers must be protected and able to freely report on public interest issues, including monitoring the actions of law enforcement officials, and must not face reprisals or other harassment.”
Attacks on online freedom
The Turkish state has also been attacking peoples’ ability to express dissent online. Under the Electronic Communications Law (Law no. 5809), the Information Technologies Authority (BTK) can place restrictions on communications on orders of the presidency. Since 19 March, the BTK has placed hundreds of restrictions on media organisations, journalists, civil society organisations and human rights defenders. The X social media platform has reported “multiple court orders […] to block over 700 accounts”.
According to the rights groups:
“Authorities must refrain from using legal and extra-legal means to exert pressure on social media platforms to censor online content in violation of their international human rights obligations, particularly content involving political discourse, which enjoys the highest level of protection. Türkiye must allow free and unfettered access to the internet, and rescind all unlawful orders to block social media accounts of those exercising their right to free expression to criticise the authorities.”
The human rights organisations also call on social media companies to resist the Turkish state’s attempts at censorship.
You can read the full statement from the human rights organisations here.
