The Freedom Convention Turkey 2023 will shed light on critical issues that have garnered international attention in Turkey addressing the democratic backslide, collapse of the rule of law, abuse of anti-terror laws, ramifications of restricted freedom of expression and multifold dwindling human rights.
“SONGS SUNG FOR THE OPPRESSED” – SONG CONTEST 2023
Grievances in Turkey and other countries within the scape of human rights violations can be expressed with art especially song as a powerful method.
In this context, AST is organizing a song contest to raise awareness about human rights violations in Turkey.
This competition aims to raise awareness with the power of art about political prisoners, torture, deprivation of fundamental human rights. Another goal of this competition is to bring individuals in the field of art to speak out; reflect aesthetic skills, present the message clearly to the listener; to engage in artistic activities for human rights.
Advocates of Silenced Turkey Commemorate Victims in Heartfelt Event
In a recent event held on Thursday, September 17th, the Advocates of Silenced Turkey (AST) organized an event titled ‘Yiten Canlara Vefa’, ‘Loyalty to Lost Lives’ at the New Jersey Baymont by Wyndham Hotel.
Justice, Awareness, and Unity: Highlights from the AST Human Rights Festival
The unforgettable AST (Advocates of Silenced Turkey) Human Rights Festival, which took place in Greenview Park in New Jersey, emphasized justice and awareness by taking a stand against the injustices in Turkey. The event held amidst the greenery drew attention to human rights violations on a warm summer day.
Beyond Turkey’s Borders: Unveiling Global Purge, Transnational Repression, Abductions
The Origins of the Problem
Turkey’s pursuit of alignment with the principles of the European Union has been marred by the government’s increasingly authoritarian tendencies, particularly since 2011. Regrettably, the country has witnessed a rapid decline, distancing itself further from the realm of modern democracy. Since 2014, Turkey’s Freedom Index score has plummeted due to a series of escalating assaults on press freedom, social media users, protesters, political parties, the judiciary, and the electoral system. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has sought to establish personalized control over the state and society within a deteriorating domestic and regional security environment.
Justice Delayed is Justice Denied
PROLOGUE
This book is based on long-term observations, social events and what is being done to address human rights violations. It tries to be the voice of people whose rights are taken away, who are silenced and sent to prison in today’s Turkey. It tries to be the cry of silenced journalists. It touches upon the stories of lost lives. It reveals important neglects regarding minorities once again. It leaves a note in history as an archive.
KAHRAMANMARAŞ DEPREMLERİNDE İNSAN HAKLARI İHLALLERİ ÖN RAPORU 2023
Türkiye, dünyanın en aktif deprem kuşaklarından birisi üzerinde bulunmaktadır. Yakın tarih incelendiğinde, büyük depremler olarak 1939 Erzincan, 1941 Van-Erciş, 1946 Varto, 1967 Adapazarı, 1971 Bingöl, 1976 Denizli, 1992 Erzincan, 1995 Dinar, 1998 Ceyhan ve 1999 Marmara ve Düzce, 2003 Bingöl, 2011 Van, 2020 Elazığ ve 2021 İzmir depremleri kaydedilmiştir. Türkiye’de depremlere yönelik bir hazırlık ve planlama yapılması amacıyla, 1945 (Yersarsıntısı Bölgeleri Haritası), 1947, 1963 (Türkiye Deprem Bölgeleri Haritası), 1972, 1996 ve 2019 (Türkiye Deprem Tehlike Haritası) yıllarında deprem bölgeleri haritaları hazırlanmış ve geliştirilerek 6 kez güncellenmiştir. Bu kapsamda, bölgesel çalışmalar yapılmış ve örneğin 2020 yılında AFAD tarafından hazırlanan Kahramanmaraş İl Afet Riski Azaltma Planı ile depreme yönelik bir hazırlık öngörüsü geliştirilmiştir.
Being the Other Child in Turkey
The current regime in Turkey, supported by the State of Emergency (OHAL) and Statutory Decrees (KHK), which is still in effect de facto albeit discontinued de jure, has been carrying out an open and covert social genocide against some parts of Turkey for years. The members of the Hizmet movement, whose number reaches approximately 8.5 million, including their relatives, were exposed to social lynching, direct and indirect rights violations, and grievances that are difficult to compensate. Similarly, along with the policy of persecuting Kurds by denying their ethnic identity, discriminatory and oppressive practices against certain groups such as Alevis and leftists continue.
Türkiye’de Öteki Çocuk Olmak
Türkiye’de Olağanüstü Hal (OHAL) ve Kanun Hükmünde Kararnameler (KHK) ile sürdürülen rejim, toplumun bazı kesimlerine yönelik yıllardır açık ve örtülü şekillerde bir sosyal soykırım yürütmektedir. Hizmet Hareketi üyelerine yönelik yürütülen toplumsal linç ile, yakınları ile birlikte sayıları 8,5 milyona ulaşan bireyler, doğrudan ve dolaylı olarak hak ihlallerine uğradı, telafisi zor mağduriyetler yaşadı. Devletin onlarca yıldır dışladığı Kürtler üzerindeki baskı ve onların etnik kimliklerini inkar politikası aynen devam ederken, Aleviler ve solcular gibi belli kesimlerin maruz kaldığı ayrımcı ve baskıcı uygulamalar da varlığını sürdürüyor.
Advocates of Silenced Turkey Report 2022
When the Turkish President declared in an infamous speech that “Old Turkey no longer exists. This Turkey is new Turkey”, the story of Turkish authoritarianism had once and for all taken on a new character. Since July of 2016, the Turkish government has improperly imprisoned 160,000+ homemakers, teachers, NGO workers, academics, judges, prosecutors and journalists.
