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Ankara, 13 November
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN), who mandated
Ms Valerie Mercer Rud to attend the hearing against the Turkish
Human Rights Foundation (HRTF) on 12 November, and the Observatory
for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders – a joint
programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) – wish
to express their deepest concern concerning the current judicial
procedure faced by the (HRFT). The purpose of the case against
HRFT is to suspend the nine Executive Board members of the foundation.
Many representatives from European embassies were also present
in the audience. The case was deferred until 20 January on the
grounds that information on the first charge (see below) of
collecting contributions via the Internet was insufficient.
The HRFT has since 1990 reported and documented human rights
violations in Turkey, in addition to operating rehabilitation
centres for torture victims. HRFT, and its executive officers
and members have been intimidated, harassed, arrested and sentenced,
and its offices and rehabilitation centres have been closed
from time to time.
However, this is the first time that the Turkish authorities
have tried to effectively close down the foundation and stop
its activities, by suspending all its executive officers. In
addition, a criminal investigation has been started by the Public
Prosecutor. This attempt to close down HRFT’s activities
was initiated by the General Director of Foundations, appointed
by the present Government. It is astonishing that at this very
time, amid the declarations of the Turkish Government about
freedom of expression and the importance of a strong civil society,
the authorities have seen it fit to institute proceedings to
close down the HRFT.
A report has been prepared by the Government’s General
Directorate of Foundations, to support the case for closing
down the HRFT. The following was contained in the conclusion
of the report, to support the demand for closing down the HRFT:
* HRFT attempted to collect contributions via internet (in support
of HRFT’s studies on the treatment of hunger strikers).
* A report on “The Prison Problem in Turkey” was
translated into English and disseminated abroad.
* A meeting was held with Asma Jahangir, UN Special Rapporteur
on extrajudicial executions, and she was provided with files
related to missing persons and extrajudicial executions.
* A meeting was also held with Johannes Svoboda, Rapporteur
on Turkey in the European Parliament, and he was provided with
a file on the F-type prisons.
* A meeting was held with the Council of Europe Commissioner
for Human Rights, and the Commissioner was provided with information
on a 9 months evaluation of the human rights situation in Turkey,
and with notes on enforced displacement.
It is with deep regret our organisations note the discrepancy
between Turkey’s commitment to fully comply with European
standards, and the Turkish authorities’ attempts to shut
down HRFT. Our organisations note with deepest concern that
holding meetings with international governmental organisations
can be considered as a ground for suspension and for opening
criminal investigations against a human rights organisation.
The above-mentioned organisations, who will continue to follow
this case with a particular attention, urge the Turkish authorities
to:
1. instruct the General Directorate of Foundations to drop
the case before the court against the nine Executive Board members,
2. ensure that the intimidation and harassment of HRFT and its
executives and members will stop forthwith, e.g by issuing instructions
to the General Directorate of Foundations, to make it aware
of Turkey’s commitments to observe in practice European
human rights standards,
3. drop the criminal investigation which has started,
4. urgently comply with the accession criteria to join the European
Union, by ensuring the adoption of remaining legislative reforms,
including the laws on foundations and associations, and the
effective implementation of all reforms,
5. more generally conform with the provisions of the Declaration
on Human Rights Defenders adopted by the UN General Assembly
n December 1998, as well as regional and international instruments
ratified by Turkey.
We also urge the European Union to :
1. monitor the cases against HRFT, including by sending EU
observers to any continued court hearings,
2. make representations to the Turkish Government, reminding
it of its commitments towards the EU, and the importance cases
such as the present one will have when determining by the end
of 2004 Turkey’s compliance with the Copenhagen criteria,
3. examine the contents and effectiveness of human rights training
programmes financed by the EU.
Press contact :
- The EMHRN: Tel.: + 45 32698912
- The FIDH : Tel : + 33 1 43 55 25 18
- The OMCT : Tel : + 41 22 809 49 39
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