Category Archives: Religious Freedom

Violence and new tragedy in Turkey

Posted on May 23, 2014 by heissenstat

Another horrible picture taken tonight in #Istanbul during protests for #UğurKurt-killed by police in a funeral house http://t.co/PzdNw2RPNd — Murat Çekiç (@muratcekic) May 22, 2014 It has been an ugly month in Turkey.  First, shocking scenes of excessive force and … Continue reading →

Posted in Amnesty International, Erdogan, Excessive Force, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression, Gezi Park, Minorities, Religious Freedom, Taksim, Turkey, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Violence and new tragedy in Turkey

The Strange case of Sevan Nişanyan

Posted on February 5, 2014 by heissenstat

The wheels of justice in Turkey sometimes turn slowly or not at all.  Consider the case of Ali Ismail Korkmaz, where key evidence incriminating police in his death was “deleted.”  Or the shocking lack of credible investigation in the Turkish … Continue reading →

Posted in Armenian, Excessive Force, Freedom of Expression, Minorities, Religious Freedom, Turkey | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Strange case of Sevan Nişanyan

Human Rights Watch: Turkey “increasingly autocratic”

Posted on January 21, 2014 by heissenstat

Human Rights Watch issued its annual report today.  The section on Turkey notes some positive steps, including a reform package, efforts at a peace process with Kurds in Turkey, and the hosting of hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees.  Nonetheless, … Continue reading →

Posted in Amnesty International, Excessive Force, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Association, Freedom of Expression, Hrant Dink, Impunity, Kurds, Minorities, PKK, Press Freedom, Religious Freedom, Turkey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Human Rights Watch: Turkey “increasingly autocratic”

Waiting for Justice Amidst the Tear Gas

Posted on October 29, 2013 by heissenstat

26-year-old Ethem Sarisuluk was shot in the head by a Turkish police officer on June 1, 2013.  He died of his injuries two weeks later. As described in Amnesty’s recent report on the Gezi crackdown: The moment when the police … Continue reading →

Posted in LGBTI, Refugees, Religious Freedom, Turkey, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Waiting for Justice Amidst the Tear Gas

Two Minutes to Fight for Freedom in Turkey (reposted from AI-USA site)

Posted on April 25, 2013 by heissenstat

In Turkey, freedom of expression is under attack. But you can make a difference. And it will only take two minutes of your time to add your voice to calls for real freedom in Turkey. The Criminalization of Dissent The situation is … Continue reading →

Posted in Amnesty International, Freedom of Expression, Internet Freedom, Press Freedom, Religious Freedom, Turkey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Two Minutes to Fight for Freedom in Turkey (reposted from AI-USA site)

Breaking news: Fazil Say Receives 10 month suspended sentence (updated)

Posted on April 15, 2013 by heissenstat

In a case that has been condemned by PEN, Amnesty International, and others, classical music luminary, Fazil Say, has been convicted and sentenced to a ten-month suspended sentence for tweeting messages that were perceived as insulting to Islam.  Say has … Continue reading →

Posted in Freedom of Expression, Internet Freedom, Religious Freedom, Turkey | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Breaking news: Fazil Say Receives 10 month suspended sentence (updated)

Repost: Why is Turkey Prosecuting Yet Another Artist?

Posted on February 19, 2013 by heissenstat

It is a cold winter for freedom of expression in Turkey. Thousands are in prison or in pre-trial detention under Turkey’s bloated anti-terrorism laws, including nearly three thousand students. Artists have been targeted as well. Five members of the protest … Continue reading →

Posted in Freedom of Expression, Internet Freedom, Press Freedom, Religious Freedom, Turkey | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Repost: Why is Turkey Prosecuting Yet Another Artist?

Prosecutor Targets Freedom Advocates (again)

Posted on January 27, 2013 by heissenstat

Given Turkey’s propensity for targeting human rights advocates (and their lawyers!), it probably should come as no surprise that the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation against PEN International’s board in TURKEY. Their apparent crime? Speaking out in … Continue reading →

Posted in Freedom of Expression, Press Freedom, Religious Freedom, Turkey | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Prosecutor Targets Freedom Advocates (again)

An Open Letter to President Obama

Posted on January 10, 2013 by heissenstat

An “open letter” to President Obama, signed jointly by  The Foreign Policy Initiative, Freedom House, Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED), and Reporters Without Borders was made public today.  The letter notes the important strategic relationship between the United States … Continue reading →

Posted in Freedom of Expression, Kurds, Military, Press Freedom, Religious Freedom, Turkey, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment