Rights Organizations: Free Taner Kılıç

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Human rights organizations have demanded that Chair of Amnesty International Turkey, refugee rights defender and attorney Taner Kılıç be released.

CLICK - Amnesty International Turkey Chair Detained

In a joint statement, the Human Rights Joint Platform member organizations Human Rights Association, Human Rights Agenda Association, International Amnesty Turkey Branch and Citizenship Association requested that the unlawful practice be ended.

Kılıç was detained yesterday (June 6) as part of the FETÖ (Fethullahist Terror Organization) investigation.

About Taner Kılıç

Taner Kılıç has served on the board of Amnesty International Turkey for various periods since 2002 and has been Chair since 2014. During his decades of work for human rights organizations in Turkey he has consistently demonstrated an unswerving commitment to human rights.

Taner Kılıç was detained from his house in Izmir at 6.30 this morning before being taken to his office. Both properties were searched. He is currently in police custody in Yeşilyurt district of Izmir.

At present, Taner Kılıç’s detention does not seem to be connected to any of Amnesty International’s work, nor to be specifically targeting the organization. The detention order refers to an investigation into suspected members of the "Fethullah Gülen Terrorist Organization". It is currently unclear why Taner Kılıç is suspected of having these links. (AS/TK)