Persecution of human rights defenders and opposition leaders in Türkiye: the Kavala and Selahattin Demirtas cases

Kavala v. Turkey case (Application No 28749/18)

Briefed on 6th September 2021, and on 23rd February 2021.

The case concerns a Turkish philanthropist and human rights defender who is unjustifiably being detained, for over 1200 days, as a means to silence his speech. More on Kavala here.

Documents from the September 2021 briefing:

• Turkey’s ‘evasive judicial tactics’ to circumvent its obligation to

  implement the ECtHR’s Selahattin Demirtaş and Osman Kavala

  judgments, Powerpoint from the Turkey Human Rights Litigation Support Project

• DH-DD(2021)836, Rule 9.2 - Communication from NGOs (Human Rights Watch, the International Commission of Jurists, and the Turkey Human Rights Litigation Support Project) (18/08/2021) in the case of Kavala v. Turkey (Application No. 28749/18)

• DH-DD (2021/841), Rule 9.2 – Communication from the applicant (30/08/2021) on the case of Kavala v Turkey (Application No. 28749/18)

Documents from the February 2021 briefing:

• Latest Rule 9.2 by Human Rights Watch, the International Commission of Jurists, and the Turkey Human Rights Litigation Support Project (February 2021)

• Latest Rule 9.2 by IFÖD (February 2021)

Selahattin Demirtaş v. Turkey (No.2) (Application No 14305/17)

Briefed on 27 November 2023, 16 September 2022, 30 May 2022, 6th September and 23rd February 2021.

The case concerns the arrest/detention of one of Turkey's main opposition leaders to limit political debate.

Documents of the November 2023 briefing:

• Powerpoint presentation by Ramazan Demir, lawyer

• Latest joint Communication from various NGOs on the case (October 2023)

Document of the September 2022 briefing:

• Powerpoint by Benan Molu, lawyer

Document of the May 2022 briefing:

• Recommendations by NGOs, as presented by Ayse Bingol Demir, Turkish Human Rights Litigation Support Project .

Documents of the September 2021 briefing:

• DH-DD(2021)759, Communication from NGOs (ARTICLE 19, Human Rights Watch, the International Commission of Jurists, the International Federation for Human Rights and the Turkey  Human Rights Litigation Support Project to the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers) (26/07/2021) in  the case of Selahattin Demirtas v. Turkey (No. 2) and reply of the authorities (Application No. 14305/17).

• Turkey’s ‘evasive judicial tactics’ to circumvent its obligation to

  implement the ECtHR’s Selahattin Demirtaş and Osman Kavala

  judgments, Powerpoint from the Turkey Human Rights Litigation Support Project

Documents from the Feburary 2021 briefing:

• Rule 9.2 submission by ARTICLE 19, Human Rights Watch, the International Commission of Jurists, the International Federation for Human Rights, and the Turkey Human Rights Litigation Support Project

• Rules 9.2 and 9.6 - Communication from NGOs (İfade Özgürlüğü Derneği (İFÖD – Freedom of Expression Association),İnsan Hakları Derneği (İHD-Human Rights Association),Eşit Haklar için İzleme Derneği (ESHİD-Association for Monitoring Equal Rights),Hak İnsiyatifi Derneği (HİD-Right Initiative Association),İnsan Hakları Gündemi Derneği (İHGD-Human Rights Agenda Association) (05/02/2021) in the case of Selahattin Demirtaş v. Turkey (No. 2) (Application No. 14305/17) and reply from the authorities (16/02/2021)