Human rights report reveals more than 1,855 people tortured in Turkish prisons during 2020
The Maat Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights issued a new report entitled “One year after the review process.. Turkey’s government ignores its UN pledges.” The report examines the human rights situation in Turkey by focusing on the most important indicators and patterns of human rights violations committed by the Turkish authorities last year. The report aims to provide a comprehensive picture of the human rights situation in Turkey.
The report pointed out that Turkey underwent the third review process on January 28, 2020, received a total of 321 recommendations, 21 of which were rejected, 215 of which were accepted, and 85 were informed. In spite of this, the Turkish government did not fulfill its commitments to promote fundamental rights and freedoms, on the contrary, it imposed almost complete nationalization of freedom of opinion and expression, and imprisoned political opponents and opinion, They were not provided with fair trials, and this period coincided with the Turkish Government’s showing a less cooperative approach to international mechanisms as well as continued repudiation of commitment and signature of international humanitarian treaties, as well as the failure to take effective measures in strengthening human rights institutions, which contributed to a repressive environment in which perpetrators of violations of the policy of impunity are granted.
The report monitored 99 points of the frightening deterioration of the human rights situation in Turkey, where the Turks still live under the repressive grip of the government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In this way tens of thousands of government critics, including journalists and human rights activists, are still imprisoned on politically motivated charges under the pretext of anti-terrorism cover. The Turkish government also followed its retaliatory attack on independent human rights organizations, defenders and These activists are sometimes killed, while Turkish security forces have used excessive force on several occasions against demonstrators, often with impunity, and the Turkish government continues to pursue and interrogate them for exercising their legitimate right to peaceful expression and refer them to Turkish courts.
Ayman Aqeel, a human rights expert and the head of Maat, said that the Turkish authorities ignored all the recommendations made to it before the UN Human Rights Council. During the past year, many legislations were issued that undermine human rights, restrict fundamental freedoms, arbitrarily arrest citizens, held incommunicado without legal representation, and besieged opposition and independent voices, closing all channels and free expression outlets, in addition to intimidating and arresting media activists and civil society . Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced his desire to amend the constitution, in order to tighten his grip on the rest of the public sphere.
Aqeel added that the repressive environment of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s regime contributed to the creation of a policy of intimidation against journalists and human rights activists. This comes at a time when violations continue to be legalized by issuing laws restricting freedom of opinion and expression such as the social media law issued by the Turkish government in July 2020, in addition to issuing a law that would eliminate civil society last December. on false and loose charges.
Aqeel explained the Turkish government’s systematic failure to prevent violence against women in Turkey, where violence against women has risen alarmingly, especially since Turkey ranks 130th out of 153 countries in the 2020 Gender Equality Index. Religious and ethnic minorities still face systematic discrimination in Turkey.
Shareef Abdel Hamid, director of the research and studies unit at Maat Foundation, said that the human rights situation in Turkey has deteriorated in recent years in a manner not seen in the country’s recent history. Violations have intensified and perpetrators have suffered complete impunity, a policy of intimidation for mere public opinion or participation has been established, and the state has used torture crimes against citizens to extract confessions in a systematic way that exposed more than 1,855550 persons in Turkish prisons in 22222 years 0, 38 of them died. In 2020, the Turkish government restricted freedom of opinion and expression, especially freedom of the press, he said, adding that at least 48 journalists were arrested on various charges, including insulting the Turkish president. Turkey ranks 154th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index 2020, ranking second in terms of the number of journalists detained in the world after China.
