From 2016 to 2023, in the midst of the human rights crisis, numerous individuals fell victim to grief, stress, and illness. As of November 2023, we have documented 952 casualties attributed to the state of emergency (OHAL) and decree laws (KHK), which include 90 children. This encompasses suspicious deaths in prisons, those who took their own lives, and those who lost their lives while trying to flee Turkey across the Meric and Aegean, encountering denial to return to their home countries. The numerous state-sanctioned human rights abuses in Turkey are too extensive to enumerate. AST engages in a range of activities, from organizing conferences and panels to writing reports submitted to relevant organizations and committees. Collaborating with other organizations is crucial for sharing causes, learning from others' stories, and amplifying our own narratives. In response to the pandemic and global crises, AST has adapted its strategies, incorporating virtual protests, panels, and written works, including reports and books. Survivor interviews are shared through books, providing a platform for the voices of those persecuted. AST encourages people to write letters to decision-makers and focuses on youth empowerment, recognizing the significant role young advocates play. Collaboration between youth and adults is essential in all aspects of our activities, including the use of art and music to advocate for human rights. In 2024, AST remains committed to being the voice of the voiceless, defending fundamental rights, educating and motivating human rights advocates, urging leaders to prioritize human rights, and convening groups for collaborative action. Let us unite in the fight against violence, inequality, and injustice. Through solidarity and political unity, we can amplify our strength, break down prejudices, and work towards a world free from violence and injustice. Thank you for being part of this crucial cause. AST GIVES A VOICE TO THE VOICELESS The Advocates of Silenced Turkey (AST) are committed to combating human rights abuses and injustices within Turkey. AST consists not only of legal experts but also includes relatives of political prisoners and victims who have faced job loss, property confiscation, and the loss of family members under the current oppressive administration. AST actively participates in various human rights initiatives, which encompass the creation of reports submitted to relevant committees, councils, and entities. AST organizes conferences, documents all forms of violence and injustice experienced by the Turkish people, arranges exhibitions, produces documentaries, and hosts art competitions. Committed to advancing democracy and human rights in Turkey, AST is dedicated to expanding its efforts in raising awareness and advocating for the cause.

When the Turkish President declared in an infamous speech that “Old Turkey no longer exists. This Turkey is new Turkey”, the story of Turkish authoritarianism had once and for all taken on a new character. Since July of 2016, the Turkish government has improperly imprisoned 160,000+homemakers, teachers, NGO workers, academics, judges, prosecutors and journalists. Once upon a time, the Republic of Turkey was lauded by insiders and outsiders for constituting a powerful model for democratization. In New Turkey, however, silence against the regime’s draconian laws, mass imprisonment, and frequent violations of universal human rights has become the norm. In a regime which ranks as the worst upholder of the rule-of law including Eastern Europe & Central Asia, 200+ media outlets have been shut down and 308 journalists and numerous human rights defenders, politicians, including Ilhan Isbilen, Hidayet Karaca, Buşra Erdal, Selahattin Demirtaş and Osman Kavala are held as political prisoners of the state. As a prominent journalist and recipient of international awards, Ahmet Altan was among the political prisoners who resist the regime’s unlawfulness. He was jailed for five years as a result of the crackdown on freedom of expression in Turkey. We are a group of lawyers, judges, academics, journalists, and hundreds of activists who cherish democratic ideals and universal human rights. We are prisoners of conscience wanted by the Erdogan’s regime, relatives of political prisoners, and victims who have lost their jobs, property and even family members to the current administration which has been described as a Mafia State. We are the Advocates of Silenced Turkey. We, the Advocates, have made it our mission to champion the rights of Silenced Turkey until universal human rights and democratic governance are established and sustained as the utmost priorities of the Republic of Turkey. In this regard, we have been the voice of voiceless people of Turkey by means of more than 200 human rights projects. We have shared the stories of the victims of grave human rights violations and persecution in Turkey through the personal belongings of them in The Social Genocide exhibition held in over 4 locations so far. We are also sharing the lives and experiences of persecuted people of Turkey with books. Among those books are the life stories of Gokhan Acikkollu and Halime Gulsu who died of torture in during incarceration in Turkey’s jails. In order to shed light on hideous assaults and rights violations in jails that women face, we have recently conducted a survey which will be reported to international entities and presented in conferences. Furthermore, as AST, we have been gathering prominent human rights experts to only discuss the human rights issues but also recommend solutions at our signature event, the Freedom Convention. For more work we do as human rights defenders please see this report closely. Thank you for all the support you do to help us achieve our humanity goals!

"BEYOND TURKEY’S BORDERS: UNVEILING GLOBAL PURGE, TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION, ABDUCTIONS" is an enthralling expose on the grave human rights violations carried out by the current Turkish government. This gripping report unveils a hidden world of abductions, enforced disappearances, and torture under the regime of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. This report is not merely a recounting of events, but a powerful call to action for every reader who values justice and human rights. Every page is replete with compelling evidence: eyewitness accounts, victims' testimonies, and a thorough examination of the aftermath of abductions. It unveils the regime's strategy of denying involvement while deliberately silencing opposition voices. It offers an enlightening portrayal of how dissidents are abducted, tortured, and coerced into confessions, while the regime celebrates these actions as achievements. The narrative does not stop at Turkey's borders. The report brings to light the regime's daring kidnappings from abroad, the victims' harrowing experiences, and the Turkish government's audacious denials. This report breaks the silence around this inhumane treatment of dissidents who are forced to withdraw their complaints under relentless pressure. This crucial report provides a human face to the victims of these oppressive practices, making it an emotional journey as well as an educational one. It uncovers how Turkey's actions starkly violate fundamental human rights and international laws. Yet, it goes beyond documenting these wrongs – it makes an impassioned plea for justice and the urgent need to protect human rights. The report is a must-read for everyone who seeks to understand the current human rights landscape in Turkey and for those inspired to take action against these atrocities. By reading this report, you're not just gaining insight into a hidden crisis; you're joining a global movement committed to upholding human rights and championing justice. This isn't just a report – it's a call to action. Stand with AST as we strive for a future where respect for human rights, rule of law, and democratic principles are upheld in Turkey, ensuring the protection and well-being of all its citizens. Get your copy now, and take your first step towards making a difference.

Executive Summary: This special report highlights the concerns raised by Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Dunja Mijatović, Flags Non-Implementation of Judgments from ECHR, Venice Commission, and Turkish Constitutional Court as Serious Threat to Rule of Law, Public Trust and Constitutional Order. Commissioner issued a comprehensive Memorandum on March 5, 2024, assessing the state of freedom of expression, media, and human rights defenders in Turkey calling for urgent measures to address these challenges, emphasizing alignment with international human rights standards.

This report, issued by the Advocates of Silence Turkey (AST), details an alarming misuse of counterterrorism laws in Turkey to systematically target and dismantle philanthropic efforts supporting the Gülen Movement. It demonstrates how the government’s relentless crackdown on these humanitarian activities not only violates basic human rights but also showcases a broader intolerance towards any form of support for the movement. Through detailed analysis of specific cases, this document highlights the severe consequences of these actions, including arbitrary detentions, legal overreach, and the stifling of essential philanthropic work. Among the numerous cases analyzed, the stories of individuals like Halime Gülsu, Nihat Toktar, Hatice Yıldız, and Halit Dumankaya exemplify the profound personal tragedies behind these statistics. Halime Gülsu, denied essential medical treatment while imprisoned, tragically lost her life, underscoring the dire human cost of these policies. Nihat Toktar, arrested for simply distributing bread to students in need, and Hatice Yıldız, detained for aiding her imprisoned daughter, highlight the indiscriminate targeting of those providing basic humanitarian support. Halit Dumankaya’s case, where a respected business leader was imprisoned for alleged affiliations, further illustrates the scope of the crackdown. These stories, along with hundreds of others not detailed in this report, paint a vivid picture of the widespread human cost of this crackdown. Each narrative underscores the devastating impact of Turkey’s misuse of counterterrorism measures on ordinary lives, compelling an urgent need for a reconsidered approach that respects human rights and the rule of law. Key Findings: • Misapplication of Justice: Individuals have been charged under counterterrorism without concrete evidence, relying heavily on affiliations or baseless accusations. • Suppression of Philanthropy: Philanthropic activities, especially those directed towards families affected by government purges, have been criminalized, portraying acts of charity as terrorism. • Media and Judicial Bias: There is significant governmental influence on both media and judiciary, which undermines the objectivity in reporting and adjudicating cases related to the Gülen Movement. • Human Rights Violations: The aggressive enforcement of counterterrorism laws has led to severe human rights violations, including the denial of medical care, inhumane detention5 The Crackdown on Humanitarian Aid in Turkey conditions, and unwarranted seizures of property. This report calls for international attention and intervention with specific recommendations: 1. Establish independent monitoring bodies to oversee Turkey’s adherence to international human rights obligations. 2. Urge the Turkish government to revise its counterterrorism laws to ensure they cannot be misused to target humanitarian actions. 3. Encourage international human rights organizations to increase support for individuals and families affected by the crackdown in Turkey. In conclusion, the systematic targeting of individuals under the guise of counterterrorism not only disrupts lives but also severely impacts Turkey’s legal and social fabric, questioning the integrity of its commitment to upholding fundamental human rights and freedoms. The global community must respond, ensuring that humanitarian principles guide our actions and that those facing persecution are not forgotten. This is essential for upholding the dignity and rights of all individuals and for maintaining the social cohesion necessary for any functioning democracy.

This booklet represents the culmination of months of work from Advocates of Silenced Turkey’s first cohort of interns. We thank them sincerely for their part in raising a voice to condemn the violence inflicted by the Turkish government on its own citizens. We would also like to gratefully acknowledge the work of Murat Erdogan and other lawyers who guided us every step of the way in assessing the provisions of the law and international documents, and who were always readily available for consultation. Lastly, this work would not be possible if not for the confidence displayed by survivors who chose to share with us their lives. We thank them graciously for their stories. The summer of 2020 witnessed the birth of Advocates of Silenced Turkey’s first internship opportunity geared towards college students around the world. We were fueled by a desire to involve youth in academic studies of injustice by allowing them the opportunity to apply their skills outside of their courses. Coming from all walks of life, our first interns utilized their academic abilities to shed light on the rampant human rights abuses facing women and their children in Turkey following the orchestrated coup attempt in 2016 which consolidated the regime’s power. Through collaborative efforts, the interns each produced a paper outlining the story of a family navigating the Turkish legal system. In this booklet you will find six reports whose individual stories are weaved together through the connective tissue of systematic government persecution and injustice.

When the Turkish President declared in an infamous speech that “old Turkey no longer exists. This Turkey is new Turkey”, the story of Turkish authoritarianism had once and for all taken on a new character. Since the July of 2016, the Turkish government has improperly imprisoned 130,214 homemakers, teachers, NGO workers, academics, judges, prosecutors and journalists. Once upon a time, the Republic of Turkey was lauded by insiders and outsiders for constituting a powerful model for democratization. In New Turkey, however, silence against the regime’s draconian laws, mass imprisonment, and frequent violations of universal human rights has become the sole norm. In a regime which ranks as the worst upholder of the rule-of-law in Eastern Europe & Central Asia, 187 media outlets have been shut down and 308 journalists, including Idil Eser, Ahmet Altan, Hidayet Karaca, Aslı Erdoğan, Şahin Alpay, Selahattin Demirtaş, and Andrew Brunson are political prisoners of the state. Dissent in New Turkey is absent. Human rights in New Turkey are absent. Respect for human dignity in New Turkey is absent. We are a group of lawyers, judges, academics, journalists, and hundreds of activists who cherish democratic ideals and universal human rights. We are prisoners of conscience wanted by the Erdogan’s regime, relatives of political prisoners, and victims who have lost their jobs, property, and family members to the current administration which has been described as a Mafia State.We are the Advocates of Silenced Turkey. We, the Advocates, have made it our mission to champion the rights of Silenced Turkey until universal human rights and democratic governance are established and sustained as the utmost priorities of the Republic of Turkey.