Şebnem Korur Fincancı

Human Rights Activism

Human rights in Turkey that were the result of many years’ struggle have been suspended since the failed coup attempt of July 15, 2016. Torture in police custody and prisons has escalated. No opposition is tolerated. People are arrested on a daily basis whenever and wherever they protest. More than 150,000 civil servants have been dismissed, some 7000 of them academics. Around 500 of these academics are peace petitioners, which contradicts statements made by the government that the dismissals are of those affiliated with the Gulen movement. Dismissals through decrees are used as means of opponent purge. All opposition media and NGOs have been shut down. Some 150 journalists are now in jail, members of parliament and mayors from the third opposition party have been jailed. The prison population in Turkey now exceeds 220,000.