“Türkiye: Concern at widespread detentions”
As Türkiye entered a challenging period—one that continues to unfold—United Nations Human Rights Office Spokesperson Liz Throssell made the following statement regarding the events: “We urge the authorities to ensure that the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly are guaranteed, in line with international law, and that credible allegations of unlawful use of force against protesters are promptly and thoroughly investigated.” It was not only Throssell who responded to the developments in Türkiye; a wide range of actors also expressed concern and issued calls to the Turkish government. Across these responses, a common demand emerged: that the government cease its ongoing human rights violations, respect its citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and expression, and end the use of torture and other forms of ill-treatment. These appeals underscored the international community’s expectation that Türkiye uphold its obligations under both domestic and international human rights law.
What transpired in March to prompt these statements?
On March 18, just days before Türkiye’s opposition party was set to announce its presidential candidate, Istanbul University annulled the university diploma of Ekrem İmamoğlu—the elected mayor of Istanbul and widely regarded as the strongest rival to the current president. The annulment, citing alleged irregularities, affected İmamoğlu and 27 others. The decision sparked significant public backlash, given that Turkish law requires a university degree to run for the presidency.
On March 19, Ekrem İmamoğlu was detained on charges of alleged collaboration with a terrorist organization and corruption. His detention coincided with a significant student demonstration at Istanbul University, where his diploma had been annulled. The protesters, asserting their right to peaceful assembly under Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), faced police barricades. Despite these restrictions, they proceeded with their demonstration, marking the beginning of a series of protests that would persist for several days.
This sequence of events raises concerns regarding due process rights under Article 14 of the ICCPR, as well as potential violations of the right to political participation under Article 25 of the ICCPR, given that the annulment of İmamoğlu’s diploma could obstruct his eligibility for candidacy. Furthermore, the response to the protests underscores broader questions about the state’s obligation to uphold the right to freedom of expression and assembly under international law.
The protests that emerged were accompanied by a series of human rights violations, prompting international actors to urge the Turkish government to uphold its obligations under international human rights law and democratic principles.
Human Rights Violations Amid the Protests
The state’s response to the protests gave rise to a number of serious human rights violations. Authorities imposed bans on demonstrations in major cities such as Istanbul, Izmir, and Ankara, restricting the right to peaceful assembly as protected under Article 21 of the ICCPR and Article 11 of the ECHR. According to the ECtHR’s guide on Article 11, the right to freedom of peaceful assembly is not absolute; it can be subject to restrictions. Do these restrictions, framed under the broad concept of “security,” effectively involve measures that undermine the core of rights, as seen in Türkiye, where protests were preemptively banned? As outlined in this guideline, while referring to case law, preemptively banning protests or altering their locations and times can infringe upon citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. The suppression of public gatherings is a common tactic used by authoritarian regimes to stifle dissent and limit citizens’ ability to lawfully express their demands. However, despite these restrictions, students continued to assemble in universities and public squares, while broader segments of society took to the streets in defiance of these prohibitions.
In parallel, the government deployed another familiar method of repression: media censorship and internet restrictions. A press and broadcast ban was imposed, along with limitations on internet access, obstructing the public’s right to information and freedom of expression as enshrined in Article 19 of the ICCPR and Article 10 of the ECHR. These measures not only curtailed fundamental freedoms but also raised serious concerns about the erosion of democratic governance and the rule of law in Türkiye.
Another significant human rights violation reported during the protests was the use of police violence, including torture, strip searches, and unlawful arrests. In addition, individuals were subjected to prolonged detention without legal justification. These actions were in clear violation of the right to peaceful assembly, a fundamental right protected under both the Turkish Constitution and international human rights law, particularly Article 21 of the ICCPR, as previously noted. The unlawful detention and mistreatment of individuals for exercising their rights to protest represent serious breaches of both national and international legal standards. It should be noted at this point that GC37 of the UN Human Rights Committee on Article 21 underscores the significance of the right to peaceful assembly in safeguarding and facilitating the enjoyment of various fundamental rights, showing that the right to peaceful assembly plays a crucial role in people’s lives by allowing them to express their ideas and goals, whether in support or opposition. The general comment also highlights that recognizing the right to peaceful assembly creates an obligation for States parties to respect and ensure its exercise, free from discrimination, and states: ‘This requires States to allow such assemblies to take place without unwarranted interference and to facilitate the exercise of the right and to protect the participants.”
These events serve as a stark reminder that human rights must not remain merely theoretical or symbolic—enshrined in legal texts but ignored in reality. It is essential that states, along with public officials responsible for implementing the law, actively uphold and enforce these rights in practice. The true measure of a state’s commitment to human rights lies not only in its legal frameworks, but in its consistent and good faith application of those protections in the lived experiences of its citizens. The protests and the surrounding developments have also clearly demonstrated the importance of a democratic state that respects human rights, what such a state should look like, and the types of restrictions and state conduct that are incompatible with international human rights obligations regarding fundamental freedoms.
Concluding Remarks
The statements by Throssell and others remain highly relevant, but they also raise a crucial question: As serious human rights violations persist globally, what real impact do international mechanisms—created in response to past atrocities—have beyond issuing expressions of concern? When abuses such as strip searches and torture continue, can statements from human rights bodies, shared through social media or official platforms, truly drive accountability and change on the ground? While these actions can raise awareness and exert diplomatic pressure, they also prompt a necessary reflection on whether the current international human rights framework is truly effective—or whether it requires fundamental reform to meet its intended purpose. In light of these concerns, the human rights violations in Türkiye must be thoroughly investigated within a robust legal framework, and concrete steps must be taken to restore democratic governance, ensuring that all individuals can fully enjoy their fundamental rights and freedoms. This highlights the ongoing need for both national and international organizations and other States to exert pressure on states to halt human rights violations wherever they occur.
Be First to Comment