Provisional release of Messrs. Zana Aksu and Azat Taş / Ongoing arbitrary detention of Mr. Mirza Ekin

TheObservatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme ofthe International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World OrganisationAgainst Torture (OMCT), has received new information and requests your urgentintervention in the following situation in Turkey.

Newinformation:

TheObservatory has been informed by the Human Rights Association (İHD) about theprovisional release of İHD’s Siirt branch Chairperson Mr. Zana Aksu aswell as İHD manager Mr. Azat Taş, and about the ongoing arbitrary detentionof İHD executivemanager Mr. Mirza Ekin.

Accordingto the information received, on October 3, 2015, the Siirt 1 Peace Court provisionally releasedMessrs. Zana Aksu and Mr. Azat Taş pending trial, while Mr. Mirza Ekin was placed indetention and transferred to the Siirt E Type Closed Prison pending trial. Allthree were arrested under the Anti-Terrorism Law (Law 3713 of April 1991) atthe end of September (see background information).

The Observatory welcomes the release of Messrs. Zana Aksuand Mr. Azat Taş, but strongly deplores the ongoing judicial harassment againstthem, as well as the ongoing arbitrary detention of Mr. Mirza Ekin in theframework of the same case. The Observatory calls upon the Turkish authoritiesto immediately release Mr. Mirza Ekin since his detention is arbitrary as it only aims atsanctioning his human rights activities, and to put an end to any kind ofharassment, including at the judicial level, against the three above-mentionedhuman rights defenders.

Background information:

The three human rights defenders were arrested on September30, 2015 by a police operationlaunched against Kurdish political parties and non-governmental organisationsin Siirt province in southeastern Turkey. The operations resulted in the arrestof at least ten people. During the illegal raid, the police confiscatedbooks, reports and other documents, as well as computers belonging to İHD.

Thiscase is an illustration of a wider trend of repression against human rightsdefenders in Turkey. The Observatory recalls in particular that theAnti-Terrorism Law has been repeatedly used by the authorities as a tool toharass and imprison human rights defenders.

Actionsrequested:

Pleasewrite to the authorities in Turkey, urging them to:

i.Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Messrs. Zana Aksu, Azat Taş and Mirza Ekin as well as all human rights defenders in Turkey;

ii.Release Mr. Mirza Ekin immediately and unconditionally,as well as all other human rights defenders currently in detention, since theirdetention is arbitrary as it only aims at curtailing their human rightsactivities;

iii.Put an end to all acts of harassment, including at the judicial level, against Messrs. Zana Aksu, Azat Taş andMirza Ekin, as well as other İHD members and all human rights defenders in Turkey;

iv.Put an end to the crackdown on civil society under the pretext of counteringterrorism and recognise the legitimate role of human rights defenders in linewith Turkey’s international commitments;

v.Comply with all the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on HumanRights Defenders, in particular with:

- its Article 1, which provides that “everyone has the right,individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for theprotection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at thenational and international levels”;

- its Article 6(a), which foresees that “everyone has the right,individually and in association with others, to participate in peacefulactivities against violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms”;

- its Article 12.2, which provides that “the State shall take allnecessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities ofeveryone, individually and in association with others, against any violence,threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure orany other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exerciseof the rights referred to in the present Declaration”;

vi.Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedomsin accordance with international human rights standards and internationalinstruments ratified by Turkey.

Addresses:

· President of Turkey,Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Cumhurbaşkanlığı Külliyesi 06560 Beştepe-Ankara, Tel:(+90 312) 525 55 55, Fax: (+90 312) 525 58 31, E-mail: contact@tccb.gov.tr

· Prime Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoglu tel: (0312) 422 10 00 ;Fax: +90 (312) 403 62 82

· Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu, No: 8 Balgat /Ankara - Turkey 06100; Tel: +90 (312) 292 10 00

· Minister of Justice, Mr. Kenan Ipek, 06659 Kizilay, Ankara; Tel: +90(312) 417 77 70; Fax: +90 (0312) 419 33 70; E-mail: info@adalet.gov.tr

· Ministerof Interior, Mr. Selami Altınok; tel: +90 (312) 42240 00; Fax:+90 (312) 425 61 30;Email: ozelkalem@icisleri.gov.tr

· Ambassador Izzet SelimYenel, Diplomatic Mission of Turkey to the European Union in Brussels, Avenuedes Arts 36-38, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium; Fax: + 32 2 511 04 50

· Ambassador Mehmet FerdenÇarikçi, Permanent Mission of Turkey to the United Nations in Geneva, Chemin duPetit-Saconnex 28B 1211 Geneva 19, Tel: +41 22 918 50 80; Fax: +41 22 734 0859; Email: mission.turkey@ties.itu.int

Pleasealso write to the diplomatic mission or embassy of Turkey in your respectivecountry.