UN Experts Urge Türkiye to End Criminalisation of Human Rights Defenders and Lawyers

United Nations experts have called on Türkiye to halt the criminalisation of human rights defenders and lawyers, warning that broad use of anti-terrorism laws is undermining fundamental freedoms. The statement highlights a series of recent prosecutions involving members of the Human Rights Association (İHD) and raises concerns about due process, legal independence, and freedom of expression.

“Criminalisation Must Stop”

UN human rights experts issued a strong statement urging Türkiye to end what they describe as the continued targeting of human rights defenders through criminal prosecutions.

According to the experts:

“Charges against human rights defenders are mostly based on anti-terrorism laws.”

They emphasized that members of the Human Rights Association (İHD) appear to have been disproportionately affected.

Cases Highlighted: İHD Members Under Pressure

The UN experts pointed to several recent cases involving İHD members.

One example is Hatice Onaran, who was convicted in 2024 of “financing terrorism” after providing small financial assistance—within prison regulations—to inmates in need, including those convicted in terrorism-related cases.

• Sentence: 4 years and 2 months
• Status: Released in February 2026 on medical grounds (temporary)

The experts raised concerns about the proportionality and context of the charges.

Lawyers Targeted for Professional Activities

The statement also highlighted cases involving lawyers working with İHD.

• Suna Bilgin was sentenced to 6 years and 3 months in prison
• Osman Süzen was acquitted of all charges

Bilgin’s conviction was linked to her legal defense work representing former members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is designated as a terrorist organisation.

UN experts expressed concern that:

“Ms. Bilgin’s conviction may be linked to her work as a lawyer.”

They also noted that additional İHD members—Tuğba Kahraman and Mehmet Acettin—have recently faced similar charges.

Investigations and Protest-Related Charges

Another İHD member, İsmail Boyraz, is currently under investigation for “participating in an unlawful assembly” after attending a teachers’ union protest in Ankara in 2024.

The experts warned that such cases may reflect broader restrictions on peaceful assembly and civic participation.

Allegations of Police Violence and Intimidation

The statement also referred to incidents involving human rights lawyer Sabri Güngen.

• In March 2025, he was allegedly assaulted by police while documenting signs of mistreatment of his client in custody
• Later in 2025, he reportedly faced verbal abuse from a prosecutor and further police violence

UN experts stressed that such actions raise serious concerns regarding the safety and independence of legal professionals.

Call for Compliance With International Law

The experts urged the Turkish government to align its legal framework with international human rights standards.

Key recommendations include:

• A clear and narrowly defined definition of terrorism
• Full respect for principles of legality, necessity, proportionality, and non-discrimination
• Protection against arbitrary detention

They also emphasized that anti-terror laws must not be used to restrict:

• Freedom of expression
• Freedom of association
• Peaceful assembly rights

Concerns Over Misuse of Anti-Terror Laws

UN experts reiterated longstanding concerns that anti-terror legislation in Türkiye is being applied too broadly.

They warned that such practices risk:

• Undermining democratic rights
• Weakening judicial independence
• Eroding trust in legal institutions

Ongoing Engagement With Authorities

The UN noted that it has raised these concerns with Turkish authorities on multiple occasions.

• Previous communications were sent in 2020 and 2023
• İHD-related cases were also addressed in 2021 and 2022

The latest developments are reportedly linked to work on:

• Prisoners’ rights
• Allegations of torture
• Advocacy for a peaceful resolution to the Kurdish issue

Outlook: Growing International Scrutiny

The UN experts’ statement highlights increasing international scrutiny of Türkiye’s human rights record, particularly regarding the use of anti-terror laws.

Key concerns include:

• Legal pressure on civil society actors
• Risks to the independence of the legal profession
• Constraints on fundamental freedoms

The experts concluded by calling on Türkiye to end the criminalisation of human rights defenders and ensure full compliance with international human rights obligations.