UN Expert Warns of Counter-Terrorism Abuses Targeting Civil Society in MENA Region
During a side event at the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Ben Saul, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, issued a stark warning about the growing misuse of counter-terrorism frameworks across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Speaking virtually, Saul criticized […]
UN Expert Condemns Türkiye’s Ongoing Misuse of Anti-Terror Laws Against Human Rights Defenders
The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, has expressed grave concern over Türkiye’s continued use of counter-terrorism laws to imprison peaceful human rights defenders and lawyers, calling it a blatant violation of international human rights obligations. In a statement released this week, Lawlor condemned the long-term detention of nine […]
UN Working Group Declares Detention of Former Turkish Air Force Commander, Akın Öztürk, Arbitrary
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has issued an opinion declaring that the ongoing detention of Akin Öztürk, former Commander of the Turkish Air Force, is arbitrary and in violation of international law. The Group called on the Government of Türkiye to release him immediately and ensure accountability for the violations of his rights. […]
UN WGAD Declares Detention of Turkish Journalist Ali Ünal Arbitrary
The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) has ruled that the detention of Turkish journalist and author Ali Ünal is arbitrary and violates international human rights law. In an official opinion adopted during its 96th session, the Working Group found that Ünal’s deprivation of liberty falls under four separate categories of arbitrary detention, […]
UN Working Group Deems the Arrest and Transfer of Turkish Nationals Alettin Duman and Tamer Tibik as Arbitrary Detention
In its ninety-third session, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) issued Opinion No. 8/2022 concerning the cases of Alettin Duman and Tamer Tibik, Turkish nationals who were abducted in Malaysia and forcibly returned to Turkey in 2016. The Working Group concluded that both individuals were subjected to arbitrary detention in violation of […]