Human rights work is not a crime. Yet across Türkiye, those defending human rights continue to face detention, criminalisation and intimidation.
On 23 June, 16 members of the Human Rights Association (İHD) were detained in a large-scale operation in Ankara ahead of the NATO Summit. While most were subsequently released, Mert Ahmet Aldemir, Zehra Camcı, Hale Nur Çetin, Emirhan Gedik, Tuğba Kahraman and Şevin Özden remain detained and are now facing trial on charges of “membership in an armed illegal organisation”. Their first hearings are taking place on 29 September and 2 October.
The case comes amid a broader crackdown on civil society. On 12–13 September, Turkish police raided the homes and offices of LGBTQI+ organisations across Ankara, Istanbul and Mersin, detaining at least 162 people, including dozens of LGBTQI+ human rights defenders and activists. Organisations including Kaos GL, Pembe Hayat, SPoD and Lambda were targeted, with activists facing morality-related accusations and sensitive digital data seized.
From the criminalisation of peaceful human rights work to raids targeting LGBTQI+ civil society, these cases point to a shrinking space for independent activism in Türkiye.
We stand in solidarity with human rights defenders and civil society organisations facing these attacks, and call on the Turkish authorities to release those arbitrarily detained and ensure that defenders can carry out their legitimate work without fear of prosecution, reprisals or intimidation.
