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 prominent human rights lawyers, most of them affiliated with the Progressive Lawyers’ Association (ÇHD), who have been arbitrarily arrested, unfairly tried, and sentenced to lengthy prison terms under terrorism-related charges.
“It is alarming that Türkiye has used counter-terrorism laws to silence peaceful voices critical of government policies,” said Lawlor. “This contradicts Türkiye’s human rights commitments.”
Among the defenders are Barkin Timtik, Aytaç Ünsal, and Selçuk Kozağaçlı, all known for representing victims of police violence, torture, and political repression. Arrested between 2018 and 2019, they were convicted in the so-called ÇHD II trial, which Lawlor said failed to meet international standards of fair trial and due process. The Turkish Supreme Court upheld their sentences in 2020.
Another lawyer, Oya Aslan, was arrested separately and sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2022, with her conviction upheld in November 2024. Meanwhile, Turan Canpolat, from the Malatya Bar Association, has been imprisoned since 2016 based on a false confession later retracted by his client. He remains behind bars with a 10-year sentence linked to alleged ties to the Gülen Movement.
All nine defenders are detained in high-security prisons, with reports of solitary confinement and ill-treatment. Lawlor called this situation an “outrage,” particularly in the case of Canpolat, who has reportedly endured nearly three years of solitary confinement without any disciplinary justification.
“I urge the Turkish Government to comply with international human rights law and ensure fair appeal processes and protection from ill-treatment,” Lawlor said. “I remain open to dialogue with Turkish authorities on this matter.”
The UN expert has raised these concerns with Türkiye on multiple occasions during her mandate but emphasized that the criminalization of peaceful human rights work continues.
