News & Blog

A picture taken on March 3, 2020 shows a general view of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ankara, ahead of a closed session to discuss the latest developments in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib. - Syrian President's forces have since December battled to retake the jihadist-dominated stronghold, where Ankara backs some rebel groups. The offensive has caused almost a million people to flee their homes and shelters, and triggered a direct Turkish military intervention last week. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Press Release

Moscow Summit Must Prioritize Ending Renewed Attacks on Civilians in Idlib

Ahead of a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Moscow tomorrow (Thursday, March…

March 4, 2020

A Turkey's border police personel stands on a watchtower overlooking a barbed wire wall fence erected on the Bulgaria-Turkey border near the town of Lesovo, on September 14, 2016. / AFP / NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV (Photo credit should read NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV/AFP via Getty Images)

Press Release

Re-Arrest of Osman Kavala in Turkey Smacks of Calculated Cruelty

The decision to detain Osman Kavala on new charges merely hours after a court-ordered his release must be immediately reversed…

February 19, 2020

Yellow and white graphic with the Amnesty international logo on the bottom left and the word

Press Release

Osman Kavala and two others face aggravated life sentences in Turkey as landmark verdict expected in Gezi trial

Ahead of tomorrow’s expected verdict in the so-called ‘Gezi trial’ where civil society leader Osman Kavala and 15 others are on…

February 14, 2020

Amnesty International staff stand in Solidarity with Idil Eser, Taner Kiliç, and other activists detained in Turkey. London, England, 18 July, 2017. Amnesty International Turkey’s Chair and Director as well as other prominent human rights defenders behind bars amid a spiralling crackdown. Amnesty Turkey's Chair, Taner Kiliç, was remanded in prison on baseless charges in early June 2017, and the Director of Amnesty Turkey, Idil Eser, was detained alongside seven other prominent human rights activists in July, 2017. They all face criminal investigations on the absurd suspicion of being members of an ‘armed terrorist organisation’.

Press Release

Turkey’s Prosecution Call for Jail Term of Up to 15 Years for Six Human Rights Defenders, Including Amnesty’s Honorary Chair and Former Director, Defies Logic

“Today’s vindictive request by the State Prosecutor for jail terms of up to 15 years ignores the evidence and defies…

November 27, 2019

Press Release

Amnesty’s Ex-Director and Honorary Chair in Turkey Must be Acquitted in Absurd “Terror” Trial

More than two years after they were first detained, the honorary chair, the former director of Amnesty International and nine other…

November 25, 2019

Turkish journalist and writer Ahmet Altan (L) speaks to journalists after being realised on November 4, 2019. - A Turkish court ordered journalist Ahmet Altan to be released on November 4, 2019, under judicial supervision despite sentencing him to more than 10 years in prison, state news agency Anadolu reported. He was accused of links to the group blamed for the country's failed coup in 2016. Journalist Nazli Ilicak was also to be released after having her own life sentence overturned, Anadolu said. (Photo by BULENT KILIC / AFP) (Photo by BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images)

Press Release

Decision to Re-Arrest Writer Ahmet Altan in Turkey a Scandalous Injustice

Following a court decision to re-arrest writer Ahmet Altan just a week after he was released from jail following more…

November 12, 2019

A journalist poses with a portrait of Turkish journalist Ahmet Altan on June 19, 2017 in front of the Istanbul courthouse, where his trial is to take place. 17 suspects, including jailed journalists Nazli Ilicak, Ahmet Altan and Mehmet Altan, will appear before an Istanbul court on June 19 for the first time in a case into the media leg of the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO). / AFP PHOTO / OZAN KOSE (Photo credit should read OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)

Press Release

A Dark Day for Press Freedom in Turkey After Politically Motivated Trial Injustice

Following trial court’s decision to sentence Nazlı Ilıcak and Ahmet Altan to 10-and-a-half, and 8 years and 9 months in…

November 4, 2019

TOPSHOT - Syrian Arab and Kurdish civilians flee with their belongings amid Turkish bombardment on Syria's northeastern town of Ras al-Ain in the Hasakeh province along the Turkish border on October 9, 2019. - Turkey launched a broad assault on Kurdish-controlled areas in northeastern Syria today, with intensive bombardment paving the way for an invasion made possible by the withdrawal of US troops. (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP) (Photo by DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Press Release

Turkey Illegally Deported Syrians Into War Ahead of Anticipated ‘Safe Zone’

Turkey spent the months leading up to its military incursion into northeast Syria forcibly deporting refugees to the war-torn country,…

October 24, 2019

Turkish-backed Syrian rebels gather in Hawar Killis in the northern countryside of Syria's Aleppo province on October 11, 2019 as they prepare to take part in Turkey's invasion of northeastern Syria. - Turkish and allied forces faced stiff Kurdish resistance as they battled to seize key border towns, on the third day of a broad offensive that sparked a civilian exodus. (Photo by Zein Al RIFAI / AFP) (Photo by ZEIN AL RIFAI/AFP via Getty Images)

Press Release

Turkish Military Offensive Risks a Humanitarian Catastrophe in Syria 

The military offensive by Turkey in northeast Syria risks devastating humanitarian consequences and a further destabilization of the region, warned…

October 11, 2019

Press Release

Civilians at risk in Syria as Turkish military offensive looms

Responding to the Turkish government’s statements that its forces are set to cross into northeast Syria “shortly” as part of…

October 9, 2019

Protesters hold a banner that reads, "Free rights defenders" during a rally outside the court house where the trial of eleven human rights activists is taking place in Istanbul on October 25, 2017. Eleven human rights activists, including the two top figures with Amnesty International in Turkey, are due to go on trial on contested terror charges, seen by the rights watchdog as a test case for the judiciary. / AFP PHOTO / YASIN AKGUL (Photo credit should read YASIN AKGUL/AFP/Getty Images)

Press Release

Turkish Judicial Farce Must End With Acquittal Of Human Rights Defenders

More than two years after they were first detained, the honorary chair and the former Director of Amnesty International Turkey…

October 8, 2019

Yellow and white graphic with the Amnesty international logo on the bottom left and the word

Press Release

‘Appalling’ violence used against students holding Pride march in Turkey

Reacting to the news that a Pride march organized by students at the Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara has been…

May 10, 2019