Ibrahim Kalin

ERDOGAN’S LONG ARMS: ABDUCTIONS IN TURKEY AND ABROAD


The Origins of the Problem

Turkey’s struggle to draw the country more in line with the pillars of the European Union faced a long and accelerating slide. The country’s Freedom in the World score has been in free fall since 2014 due to an escalating series of assaults on the press, social media users, protesters, political parties, the judiciary, and the electoral system, as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan fought to impose personalized control over the state and society in a deteriorating domestic and regional security environment.

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SEND A LETTER : TORTURE ALLEGATIONS

 

 

Urge Turkish authorities to investigate and stop the torture of 18 ex-Intelligence
employees in Ankara at the counter-terrorism department on December 18th and
bring perpetrators to justice.

Dear (Mr. Senator) (Law Enforcement Officials),

According to information provided by Bold Medya from ex-MIT employee H.Ç’s wife (a lawyer), the detainees were interviewed at 10:30 PM on December 18th, 2019 and threatened with rape using bottles in the counter-terrorism department in Ankara, Turkey.

“My husband was threatened with [my safety], although he did not give details about this part. I think this hurt him deeply. He was threatened with his family and his mother. Then they showed him bottles lined up side by side and threatened him saying ‘Look, we oiled this bottle for you. Today we’re only saying hello, you can guess what we will do tomorrow’” said H.Ç, a lawyer and the wife of one of the detainees.

During the last two years following the so-called coup attempt on July 15, 2016, almost all democratic processes and fundamental human rights have been suspended in Turkey.

The Erdogan administration has greatly restricted access to basic human rights and has abandoned the values of equality and respect for human dignity in the sense that the western civilization stipulates, and in this regard, it has completely broken its ties with the modern world. Other reports prepared by many internationally recognized human rights institutions clearly state the same. For example, the Human Rights Watch published a report about kidnapping and torture in Turkey (Police Custody Torture and Abductions in Turkey) on October 2017 while the United Nations published a report on March 20, 2018, about the widespread human rights violations including torture during Turkey’s state of emergency.

The High Commissioner for UN Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, mentioned that about 160,000 people were detained in Turkey; 152,000 state officials, including teachers, judges and lawyers, among whom the vast majority were arbitrarily expelled or investigated; nearly 200 journalists were arrested, 201 media outlets and hundreds of websites were closed during the state of emergency period. There were many cases of torture, rape, and kidnapping, which were only partially reflected in the reports. As a result of the criminal announcements regarding these issues, the limited investigations in Turkey provided no positive results.

Similarly, the UN rapporteur expressed that 100 pregnant women or women with newborns were taken into custody, severely separated from their children on the grounds that they were “affiliates” with their husbands or older children suspected
of being linked to labeled organizations. As best said by the UN rapporteur, “This is not merely excessive, but entirely cruel!”

FACTS ABOUT TORTURE & DEATHS IN TURKEY

Gokhan Acikkollu, a 42-year old history teacher suffering from diabetes was dismissed from his job then detained & tortured for 13 days under police custody. The result was his death.

The torture allegations documented by the Ankara Bar Association against 6 ex-diplomats of the Turkish Foreign Ministry were detained at Police Headquarters in Ankara on May 26th are another prominent example of torture in Turkey.

According to the UN, there were 263 incidents of torture in the space of a single year and 2,278 victims faced maltreatment and torture. By the count of the State Department, there were 328 allegations of torture and at least 51 suspicious deaths in custody and prisons in the last 3 years.

We urge the Turkish authorities to investigate and end state-sanctioned torture in addition to bring the perpetrators to justice.
We urge all international bodies and human rights organizations to take the necessary steps to STOP TORTURE in TURKEY and bring all the perpetrators to justice.

DOC LINK

Source:
http://aktifhaber.com/m/iskence/mitin-18-eski-calisani-ankara-temde-iskence-goruyor-
h140867.html

#StopTortureInTurkey
Mention List
@adalet_bakanlik
@UNHumanRights
@StateDept
@HelsinkiComm

Advocates of Silenced Turkey
[email protected]
1-540-209-1934
Silencedturkey.org
Twitter: @silencedturkey
Facebook: @silencedturkey

Dear Hon. Rep. Chris SMITH
Washington, DC Office
2373 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
phone (202) 225-3765
fax (202) 225-7768

COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE, U.S. HELSINKI
COMMISSION
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U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
Twitter: @UN_HRC | https://www.facebook.com/UNHRC
Phone Number: +41 22 917 9656
E-mail: [email protected]
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Address: 2201 C St NW, Washington, DC 20520
Phone Number: (202) 647-4000
Twitter: @StateDept
https://register.state.gov/contactus/contactusform

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Twitter: @amnestyusa | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amnestyusa

[email protected]
@amnesty
@aforgutu

UN HUMAN RIGHTS
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights
Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
CH- 121 I Geneva 10. Switzerland
Email: [email protected]
REP. CHRIS SMITH -NJ (LANTOS COMMISSION)
Washington, DC Office
2373 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
phone (202) 225-3765
fax (202) 225-7768
https://chrissmith.house.gov/contact/
REP. HASTINGS-FL (HELSINKI COMMITTEE)
Washington, D.C.
2353 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Tel: (202) 225-1313
Fax: (202) 225-1171
https://alceehastings.house.gov/contact/

Abdülhamit Gül
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
06659 Kizilay
Ankara, Republic of Turkey
Email: [email protected]

 

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PRESS RELEASE: CALLING EVERY DISSIDENT ABROAD AS TERRORIST, ERDOGAN VOWS TO KILL “TERRORISTS”(!) BY JUSTIFYING THIS ATTEMPT WITH A REFERRAL TO THE OPERATION AGAINST BAGHDADI

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FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE

CALLING EVERY DISSIDENT ABROAD AS TERRORIST, ERDOGAN VOWS TO KILL “TERRORISTS”(!) BY JUSTIFYING THIS ATTEMPT WITH A REFERRAL TO THE OPERATION AGAINST BAGHDADI

It has now been over three years since the failed coup attempt and the Turkish government has been targeting its dissident citizens abroad since then. Until very lately, the issue was a concern of countries where some kidnappings and abductions took place and where authorities acceded to Ankara’s demands for their extradition.

However, lately, The U.S. administration also came to face the unpleasant reality of such inhumane practices after the unlawful arrests and imprisonments of American citizens in Turkey. Moreover, while opponents of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have been captured in Moldova, Ukraine, Kosovo, Malaysia, Gabon, and many other countries, last year Erdogan’s spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin hinted that Turkey would conduct such operations on the U.S. soil as well. Following all these intimidations in terms of human rights, this week we faced the most concrete and frightening threat voiced by the Turkish President. While giving a speech on recent happenings in Syria and Baghdadi’s death, Erdogan said Turkey’s actions would be justified in targeting individuals living in foreign countries if these individuals are viewed as terrorists by them and labeled as threats to national security. President Erdogan also added that he hoped he could deliver “good news” on this issue soon.

We emphasize our great concern about such targeting threats and urge the U.S. authorities to seek clarification from the Turkish administration over these threatening remarks. In this respect, a determined stance by the U.S. would play a deterring role for any reckless attempt by the Turkish government against Turkish dissidents living in the U.S.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

www.silencedturkey.org
[email protected]

 

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SEND A LETTER: SENATORS and LAW ENFORCEMENT ABOUT THREATS AGAINST TURKISH CITIZENS

PDF LINK

DOC LINK

 

Re: Calling every dissident abroad as a terrorist, Erdogan vows to kill “terrorists”(!)  by justifying this attempt with a referral to the operation against Baghdadi

Dear (Mr. Senator) (Law Enforcement Officials),

It has now been over three years since the failed coup attempt and the Turkish government has been targeting its dissident citizens abroad since then. Until very lately, the issue was a concern of countries where some kidnappings and abductions took place and where authorities acceded to Ankara’s demands for their extradition.

However, lately, The U.S. administration also came to face the unpleasant reality of such inhumane practices after the unlawful arrests and imprisonments of American citizens in Turkey. Moreover, while opponents of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have been captured in Moldova, Ukraine, Kosovo, Malaysia, Gabon, and many other countries, last year Erdogan’s spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin hinted that Turkey would conduct such operations on the U.S. soil as well. Following all these intimidations in terms of human rights, this week we faced the most concrete and frightening threat voiced by the Turkish President. While giving a speech on recent happenings in Syria and Baghdadi’s death, Erdogan said Turkey’s actions would be justified in targeting individuals living in foreign countries if these individuals are viewed as terrorists by them and labeled as threats to national security. President Erdogan also added that he hoped he could deliver “good news” on this issue soon. Attached you may find the links to detailed information about the issue.

I, as a critic of Erdogan and the Turkish government, write to you to emphasize our great concern about such targeting threats and urge the U.S. authorities to seek clarification from the Turkish administration over these threatening remarks. In this respect, a determined stance by the U.S. would play a deterring role for any reckless attempt by the Turkish government against Turkish dissidents living in the U.S. We would be glad to see you address this issue and attract attention to threats in your official capacity.

Best Regards,

 

https://youtu.be/HR3A6-tEVuk

https://ahvalnews-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/ahvalnews.com/turkey-us/erdogan-hints-turkey-could-follow-us-lead-assassinate-enemies-abroad?amp

https://www.turkishminute.com/2019/10/30/erdogan-says-turkey-has-right-to-kill-people-abroad-who-threaten-national-security/

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/turkey/2017-11-30/turkey-turning-mafia-state

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/912938/Turkey-Erdogan-fascist-state-vigilante-military-coup-armed-civilians-HOH-latest-democracy

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/14/c_136893638.htm

 

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS ABOUT HUMAN RIGHT VIOLATIONS.

1) U.S. Homeland Security
Email: https://www.dhs.gov/online-forms-and-email / [email protected]
Phone: 202-282-8000
Twitter: @DHSgov
Website: https://www.dhs.gov/

2) The Federal Bureau of Investigation
Email: (need to submit form online)
Phone: 202-278-2000
Twitter: @FBI
Website: https://www.fbi.gov/

3) U.S. Department of State
Email: https://register.state.gov/contactus/contactusform
Phone: (202) 647-6575
Twitter: @StateDept
Website: https://www.state.gov/

4) U.S. Department of Justice
Email: https://www.justice.gov/doj/webform/your-message-department-justice
Phone: 202-353-1555
Twitter: @TheJusticeDept
Website: https://www.justice.gov/

5) United Nations Human Rights Council (UN HRC)
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (+41) 22 917 9656
Twitter: @UN_HRC
Website: www.ohchr.org/hrc

6) European Court of Human Rights
Email: http://appform.echr.coe.int/echrrequest/request.aspx?lang=gb
Phone: (+33) 0 3 88 41 20 18
Fax: (+33) (0)3 88 41 27 30
Website: http://www.echr.coe.int/pages/home.aspx?p=basictexts

7) International Court of Justice
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (+31) 70 302 23 23
Fax: (+31) 70 364 99 28
Twitter: @CIJ_ICJ
Website: http://www.icj-cij.org/en

8) European Union
Email: (need to submit form online)
Phone: 80067891011
Twitter: @EU_Commission
Website: https://europa.eu/european-union/index_en

9) Interpol
Email: https://www.interpol.int/Forms/CPO
Fax: +33 4 72 44 71 63
Twitter: @INTERPOL_HQ ‏
Website: https://www.interpol.int/

10) The Federal Government of Germany
Email: (need to submit form online)
Website: https://www.bundesregierung.de/Webs/Breg/EN/Homepage/_node.html

11) Federal Office for Migration and Refugees
Email: (need to submit form online)

12) Federal Office for Migration and Refugees
Email: (need to submit form online)
Phone: (+49) 911 9430
Twitter: @BAMF_Dialog
Website: http://www.bamf.de/EN/Startseite/startseite-node.html

13) The Parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany
Email: https://www.bundestag.de/en/service/contactform
Phone: (+49) (0) 30 227-0
Fax: (+49)(0) 30 227-36878
Twitter: @INTERPOL_HQ ‏
Website: http://www.bundestag.de/en/

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WARNING AGAINST SENIOR TURKISH AIDE’S ABDUCTION THREATS IN US

On September 25, 2018 Erdogan’s Long Arms Aiming to Reach US Territory

Turkey Seeks to Target Erdogan Opponents on US Soil

Turkey’s long-running campaign to target and capture political opponents of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan living abroad has taken a new turn after his spokesman threatened to conduct operations in the U.S., similar to the ones which took place in Moldova, Ukraine, Kosovo, Malaysia, Gabon and a number of other countries.

Ankara’s indulgence in risky and bold operations, in clear disregard and violation of international norms, have already aroused controversy and a state of tension with its allies and the countries where such kidnappings or captures occurred. As recently as in September, the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) snatched a group of Turkish teachers critical of the Erdogan government from Moldova after collaboration with the local security agency.

Almost all incidents, without an exception, have stirred political controversy and intense partisan bickering among political parties within countries where Ankara’s long arms involved in controversial security operations to target opponents, mostly affiliated with Gulen Movement, a banned civil society group in Turkey.

Turkey’s assertive and robust push to get Gulen-linked people shows no signs of receding. And after Ibrahim Kalin, President Erdogan’s spokesman, stepped in to declare that Turkey may conduct similar operations on the U.S. soil as well, things would stumble into an uncharted territory and would inject a new layer of uncertainty into an already perilous and tense relationship between the two NATO allies.

Speaking to reporters in Ankara in late September, Kalin vowed that the Turkish government would never relent its campaign against Gulen people. “They will feel Turkey breathing down their neck,” he said.

He went on to say: “Relevant units and institutions will continue their operations in countries where Gulen Movement operates, whether in the U.S. or another country. The Turkish Republic will not let them rest.”

Turkey’s authorities describe the Gulen Movement as a terrorist organization and ascribe the blame for the abortive 2016 coup to the movement, without offering a convincing evidence.

The presence of Fethullah Gulen, the inspired leader of the movement, in the U.S. territory remains a lasting source of friction between Ankara and Washington. Turkey’s numerous attempts and endless demands for the extradition of Gulen from the U.S. have yielded no result so far today. Although Ankara sent countless boxes of documents and dossiers supposedly containing evidence to Washington, the U.S. authorities did not budge their position.

The U.S. officials say Turkey has yet to offer tangible evidence linking Gulen to the coup.

While Turkey’s relentless pursuit of Gulen people in countries with weak rule of law and corrupt governments is a well-known phenomenon, the hint from a senior aide to Erdogan about a potential attempt to snatch people linked with the movement from the U.S. soil is a first of its kind.

This evidently illustrates the zeal and ambition of the Turkish government to get their opponents from anywhere else with little regard for diplomatic ramifications. It also clearly reveals that Ankara, otherwise unanimously and collectively condemned and pressured by its Western allies, would never abate its operations to target Gulen people, even in the U.S.

Kalin’s threat comes on the heels of an ongoing dispute regarding the continuing imprisonment of a U.S. pastor in Turkey. Erdogan already unveiled his plan for a potential prisoner swap to get Gulen back to Turkey in exchange of Pastor Andrew Brunson. But his proposal was bluntly rebuffed by the U.S. officials in 2017.

Kalin’s remarks appear as no mere speculation or wishful thinking. Rather, his statement points to the existence of determination and a certain course of policy on behalf of the Turkish government to haunt Gulen sympathizers in the U.S.

In 2017, the U.S. prosecutors revealed a scheme involving Michael Flynn, former National Security Advisor of President Donald J. Trump, to spirit Gulen away from the U.S. territory. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, former Energy Minister Berat Albayrak, Turkish envoy to the U.S. and a former CIA chief were also present during the discussion of a plan to smuggle Gulen. Flynn also lobbied on behalf of Ankara for the extradition of Gulen.

Against this backdrop, Kalin’s threatening remarks have taken a special meaning and context. The Turkish government has already expertly versed in the business of overseas operations to capture Erdogan’s opponents. The U.S. authorities should keep an eye on this possibility and would remain alarmed in the face of threats for conducting similar operations on the U.S. soil.

We write you to emphasize our great concern about such threats and urge the U.S. authorities to seek clarification from the Turkish administration over Kalin’s threatening remarks. In this respect, the State Department may summon the Turkish Ambassador to the U.S. to demand further elaboration and elucidation of Kalin’s remarks.

Separately, we request from the U.S. law enforcement agencies to pay extra attention to the situation and keep a closer eye on any suspicious moves or acts of pro-Erdogan Turks living in the U.S. with regard to the security and wellbeing of Gulen Movement sympathizers across the U.S.

Download this statement as a word document:
https://silencedturkey.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Warning-Against-Senior-Turkish-Aide’s-Abduction-Threats-in-US.docx

We request from the U.S. authorities to pay extra attention to this situation in the U.S. with regard to the security and wellbeing of Gulen Movement sympathizers across the U.S.

Download the sample letter for your local authorities as a word document:
https://silencedturkey.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Senator-Letter.docx

You can find your U.S Senator from the link below.

https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

You can find your U.S Representatives from the link below.

https://www.house.gov/representatives

We also request from the U.S. law enforcement agencies to pay extra attention to the situation and keep a closer eye on any suspicious moves or acts of pro-Erdogan Turks living in the U.S. with regard to the security and wellbeing of Gulen Movement sympathizers across the U.S.

Download the sample letter for your local Law Enforcement authorities as a word document:

https://silencedturkey.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/To-Law-Enforcement-Officials.docx

We urge everyone to take action. Express your views or send attached statement to following addresses:

1)Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Phone: +1 (202) 612-6700
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @TurkishEmbassy
Website: http://washington.emb.mfa.gov.tr/Mission

2) United Nations Human Rights Council (UN HRC)
Phone: (+41) 22 917 9656
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @UN_HRC
Website: www.ohchr.org/hrc

3) U.S. Department of State
Phone: (202) 647-6575
Email: https://register.state.gov/contactus/contactusform
Twitter: @StateDept
Website: https://www.state.gov/

4) Mike Pence, Vice President of the United States
Phone: 202-456-6213
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @VP

5) Senator Cory Booker
Phone: (202) 224-3224
Fax: (202) 224-8378
Email: https://www.booker.senate.gov/?p=contact
Twitter:@SenBooker

6)Human Rights Watch U.S.
Phone: +1-212-290-4700
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.hrw.org/united-states

7) Dana Tyrone Rohrabacher, House of Representatives
Phone: (202) 225-2415
Twitter: @RepRohrabacher, @DanaRohrabacher
Email: https://rohrabacher.house.gov/contact

News articles on the raid:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/turkey-will-conduct-operations-against-erdogan-s-enemies-u-s-n912996

https://dailycaller.com/2018/09/24/erdogan-operations-america/

https://ahvalnews.com/turkey-us/turkish-presidents-spokesman-threatens-operations-against-opponents-us-soil

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1022726/turkey-news-Recep-Tayyip-Erdogan-Fethullah-Gulen-FETO-Ibrahim-Kalin-pensylvania-USA

https://www.turkishminute.com/2018/09/23/turkey-says-operations-targeting-gulen-movement-could-extend-to-us/

https://theregion.org/article/13128-turkey-threatens-to-target-dissidents-abroad-039-anytime-anywhere-039

Ibrahim Kalin’s threatening video

Ibrahim Kalin’s threatening video

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