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Press Release
Turkey: Court defies logic as Amnesty Turkey Chair kept in jail
In response to the continued detention of human rights defender, Taner Kılıç, after the latest hearing against him, Salil Shetty, Amnesty International’s Secretary General said: “Today’s heart-breaking decision to keep our colleague in jail is yet another travesty of justice. “After more than a year away from his family, and without a a shred of credible evidence presented to substantiate the absurd charges made against him, his cruel and protracted incarceration defies all logic. “Earlier this month, any fig-leaf of legitimacy for the prosecutor’s case was stripped away with the submission of the long-delayed police report. By failing to find any evidence that Taner…
June 21, 2018
Press Release
Turkey: “When I am released I want to carry on” says jailed Amnesty Chair
On the eve of the resumption of his trial, jailed Amnesty International Turkey’s Honorary Chair, Taner Kılıç, has made an impassioned plea for people not to stay silent on the issue of human rights abuses in Turkey and vowed to carry on his work when he is released. “When I am released I want to carry on. I know now more than ever how important human rights are,” Taner told Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Salil Shetty, who visited him in Şakran high security prison today. “Others in are in a worse situation than me,” Taner continued, stressing the need for solidarity with everyone…
June 20, 2018
Press Release
Turkey: One year since the imprisonment of Taner Kılıç, demands for his release will not be silenced
Despite the government’s cynical crackdown on human rights, activists for justice and freedom will not be silenced, Amnesty International said on the first anniversary of the detention of Taner Kılıç. The Honorary Chair of Amnesty International Turkey was arrested on 6 June 2017 on a baseless charge of belonging to a terrorist organization. More than a million people have since raised their voices and backed Amnesty’s campaign for his immediate release. “Today we mourn the year of Taner Kılıç’s life that Turkey’s government has unjustly taken from him, but this is also a moment to redouble our efforts to secure his…
June 6, 2018
Press Release
Turkey: Thousands of Afghans swept up in ruthless deportation drive
At least 2,000 Afghans who fled to Turkey to escape conflict and the worst excesses of the Taliban are in detention and at imminent risk of being forced back to danger, Amnesty International said today. The Turkish authorities appear to be ramping up a deportation spree that has seen 7,100 Afghans rounded up and returned to Afghanistan since early April. The Turkish authorities told Amnesty International that all these returns are voluntary, and that the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR has periodic access to places of detention. However, in telephone interviews with detainees in the Düziçi container camp in southern Turkey, where…
April 24, 2018
Press Release
Turkey: Global stunts and vigils mark 300 days behind bars for Amnesty chair
Ahead of today’s international day of action, marking his 300th day behind bars, the imprisoned honorary chair of Amnesty International Turkey, Taner Kılıç, has expressed his heartfelt thanks to all those who have stood in solidarity with him.
April 4, 2018
Press Release
Turkey: A dark day for press freedom and for justice as journalists sentenced to life
Following the aggravated life sentences handed down to six defendants, including Nazlı Ilıcak, Ahmet Altan and Mehmet Altan, for “attempting to overthrow the constitutional order”, Gauri van Gulik, Europe Director for Amnesty International, said.
February 16, 2018
Press Release
Re-arrest and detention of Amnesty chair hours after release ordered devastates family, disgraces justice
The decision to renew the detention of Amnesty International’s Turkey Chair mere hours after a court ordered his release must be immediately reversed and Taner Kılıç set free, said Amnesty International. “Over the last 24 hours we have borne witness to a travesty of justice of spectacular proportions. To have been granted release only to have the door to freedom so callously slammed in his face is devastating for Taner, his family and all who stand for justice in Turkey,” said Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Salil Shetty. “This latest episode of his malicious detention has dashed the hopes of Taner…
February 1, 2018
Press Release
Turkish court releases Amnesty Chair after nearly 8 months in jail
Following a decision by a court in Istanbul to conditionally release the Chair of Amnesty International Turkey, Taner Kılıç, after nearly eight months in detention, Gauri van Gulik, Amnesty International’s Europe Director said the following.
January 31, 2018
Press Release
Turkey: Global figures join call to “end gross injustice” as trial of Amnesty Chair and Director and other rights activists resumes
More than 70 renowned cultural and political figures have come together to demand that Turkish authorities drop trumped-up terrorism charges against 11 human rights defenders, including Amnesty International’s Turkey Director and Chair.
November 22, 2017
Press Release
Court decision to keep Amnesty Turkey Chair in jail flies in the face of reason
Responding to today’s decision by the Istanbul Court to continue the pre-trial detention of Amnesty International’s Turkey Chair, Taner Kılıç, John Dalhuisen said the following:
November 22, 2017
Press Release
Amnesty Turkey Chair kept in jail one day after 10 other human rights defenders conditionally released
Following a decision by an Izmir court not to release human rights defender, Taner Kılıç, Salil Shetty, Amnesty International’s Secretary General said the following:
October 26, 2017
Press Release
Turkish court releases human rights defenders including Amnesty International’s Turkey Director
Following a decision by a court in Istanbul to conditionally release eight human rights defenders while their trial continues, Salil Shetty, Amnesty International’s Secretary General said the following:
October 25, 2017