Amnesty Urges Turkey to Release Rights Defenders

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Amnesty International has launched an “urgent action” campaign concerning the 10 human rights advocates.

In its campaign, the Amnesty called for “immediate and unconditional release” of the rights defenders.

“Arbitrary detentions are legally forbidden. Right to not being arbitrarily detained is acknowledged in Article 9 of the International Covenant on Social and Political Rights of which Turkey is a part also”.

The rights advocates were detained in a meeting they attended on July 5 and are still in custody. The prosecutor has issued a 14-day detention.

The 10 human rights defenders detained are İdil Eser (Amnesty International), İlknur Üstün  (Women's Coalition), Günal Kurşun (Human Rights Agenda Association), Nalan Erkem,(Citizens Assembly), Nejat Taştan (Equal Rights Watch Association), Özlem Dalkıran (Citizens’ Assembly), Şeyhmuz Özbekli (lawyer), Veli Acu (Human Rights Agenda Association) Ali Gharavi (IT strategy consultant), Peter Steudtner (non-violence and wellbeing trainer). (AS/TK)