Category Archives: Academic Freedom

Amnesty calls for independent monitors as allegations of torture mount

Posted on July 24, 2016 by heissenstat

In the aftermath of a failed coup attempt, Amnesty has seen mounting evidence of human rights abuses, including a further clamp down on freedom of expression and mass arrests. The detention of human rights lawyer Orhan Kemal Cengiz and the raid … Continue reading →

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In Turkey, freedom of expression early casualty of “anti-terror” campaign

Posted on March 25, 2016 by heissenstat

Turkey has suffered from a series of horrendous attacks in recent months.  The security challenges it faces are very real.  Unfortunately, the rhetoric coming out of Ankara suggests that, under the umbrella of fighting terrorism, the most basic civil liberties … Continue reading →

Posted in Academic Freedom, Amnesty International, Andrew Gardner, Anti-terrorism, Cumhuriyet, Erdogan, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Press, Press Freedom, Terrorism, Turkey, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on In Turkey, freedom of expression early casualty of “anti-terror” campaign

Amnesty calls on Turkey to End Abusive Operations

Posted on January 20, 2016 by heissenstat

In a briefing and press release today (January 21) , Amnesty International renewed its call to Turkish authorities to “end the indefinite curfews in Kurdish neighbourhoods across east and south-east Turkey.” For several months, Amnesty International has been urging the … Continue reading →

Posted in Academic Freedom, Andrew Gardner, Anti-terrorism, Erdogan, Excessive Force, Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Press, Impunity, Kurds, PKK, Press Freedom, Terrorism, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Amnesty calls on Turkey to End Abusive Operations

Another shocking attack on freedom of expression in Turkey

Posted on October 28, 2015 by heissenstat

Today’s raids on Turkish media outlets are “yet another shocking attack on journalists and freedom of expression in Turkey, and come just four days before a crucial parliamentary election on Sunday,” according to Amnesty International in a statement released today. … Continue reading →

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Turkey applies for Pınar Selek’s extradition

Posted on December 29, 2013 by heissenstat

According to press reports, Turkey has applied to France for the extradition of Pınar Selek, who was sentenced this past January to life imprisonment for a 1998 bombing at the Egyptian Bazaar in Istanbul. Selek’s kafkaesqe trial has been widely … Continue reading →

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More police violence in Turkey: Amnesty’s Statement on Excessive Force at Middle East Technical University

Posted on November 1, 2013 by heissenstat

A protest to protect green spaces.  Nighttime raids.  Shocking scenes of police violence.  Perhaps it would be farcical if it were not so tragic, but the scenes of excessive force at Middle East Technical University demonstrate that Turkish authorities have … Continue reading →

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The Plot and the Ivory Tower: Scholars targeted in the Ergenekon Trial

Posted on August 6, 2013 by cecbill

The Ergenekon trial, which dragged on for six years, finally made international headlines when it decided the fate of 275 suspects August 5.  Most reporting on the decisions handed down by the court focused on the life sentences given to … Continue reading →

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The Crackdown Continues

Posted on July 17, 2013 by heissenstat

The targeting of students for their political activities is nothing new in Turkey.  Indeed, thousands have been arrested over the past few years as Turkey has attacked various forms of political dissent.  Still, there is something distinctly chilling about the … Continue reading →

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Turkish Justice: Settling Scores, Punishing Enemies

Posted on July 3, 2013 by cecbill

Professor Kemal Guruz, former head of the Turkish Council on Higher Education (CHE), has been in a maximum security prison now for a little over a year, charged with participating in what has been called Turkey’s “Postmodern Coup,” when the … Continue reading →

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State Department Report on Human Rights in Turkey

Posted on April 21, 2013 by heissenstat

The U.S. Department of State has released its annual country report on Human Rights in Turkey, outlining some areas of improvement and drawing attention to some major deficiencies in Turkey’s record over the past year. The report noted the full … Continue reading →

Posted in Academic Freedom, Amnesty International, Excessive Force, Freedom of Association, Freedom of Expression, Internet Freedom, LGBT Rights, Turkey, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on State Department Report on Human Rights in Turkey