• Number of leading judgments pending implementation: 137

  • Average time leading cases have been pending: 7 years and 5 months

  • Percentage of leading cases from the last 10 years still pending: 59%

Percentage of leading cases from the last 10 years still pending

 

Case example(s) 

EIN Blog
Detention as a means of silencing human rights defenders: The case of Osman Kavala

Osman Kavala is a Turkish philanthropist and human rights defender who has contributed to the establishment of numerous NGOs in Turkey since the 1990s. These organisations currently operate in human rights, cultural and social studies, historical reconciliation and environmental protection.

EIN is providing advice concerning the implementation process and the drafting of submissions to a number of NGOs working on Mr Kavala’s case. EIN campaigns for the immediate release of Mr Kavala and the implementation of the judgment in all of its forms.

Attack on freedom of speech – the case of Ahmet Sik
Attack on freedom of speech – the case of Ahmet Sik

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Turkey has more journalists in prison than any other country in the world.  Ahmet Şık is a prominent Turkish investigative journalist, who was arrested and detained for his journalism in 2011.

Journalism under threat – the case of Nedim Sener
Journalism under threat – the case of Nedim Sener

Serious and continuing problems with freedom of expression in Turkey have been revealed by the Court’s judgments since 1998. The case of Nedim Şener is one example. He was arrested and detained for over a year, as a result of his work as an investigative journalist.

The right to peaceful assembly in Turkey: the Oya Ataman case
The right to peaceful assembly in Turkey: the Oya Ataman case

On 22 April 2000, Oya Ataman took to Sultanahmet Square,Istanbul, in protest against prison conditions in Turkey.  Despite posing no threat to public order, Turkish authorities subjected Oya and several of her colleagues to arbitrary arrest and repelled them with pepper spray, a nerve agent capable of causing respiratory problems, nausea, vomiting and spasms.

In December 2006, The European Court found a violation of article 11 of the European Convention of Human Rights, protecting the right to peaceful assembly.

Useful links

Sources of Statistics: Council of Europe Annual Reports on the Implementation of Judgments and HUDOC EXEC. Statistics as of January 2025.