ISTANBUL - Human rights organizations drew attention to the increasing pressures on civil society organizations through the Gezi Park indictment. Organizations seeking to end planned methods of mobbing and harassment have reminded the authorities of international obligations to protect human rights defenders. 

 

As regards the Gezi Park protests, a press conference A press conference was held regarding the Gezi Park protests on the indictment, which was prepared within the scope of the investigation conducted on 16 names including the business person Osman Kavala. The meeting, which was held by 10 local and foreign institutions working on human rights and freedoms, was held at the Mirror Passage Hall in Beyoglu.

 The institutions attending the press conference are;  Civil Rights Defenders (Civil Rights Defenders), Monitoring Association for Equal Rights, the Truth Justice Memory Center, Rights Initiative Association, the Human Rights Association (IHD), the Human Rights Agenda Association, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Turkey's Human Rights Foundation (HRFT), Citizenship Association and Amnesty International.

Amnesty International Turkey Campaigns and Advocacy Director Ruhat Sena Akşener said that they organized this meeting in order to draw attention to the increasingly heavy pressure recently on civil society , then read the common press text on behalf of the attending institutions.

 

Akşener reminded that Turkey is a part of the universal law and stressed the importance of human rights defenders, civil society and free media in ensuring full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

 

Akşener said "It is a prerequisite for the effective protection of the dignity, physical and psychological integrity, freedom and security of human rights defenders and the realization of the right to defend human rights. Universal law also insists that the fundamental responsibility for the protection of human rights defenders belongs to the state. States are obliged to protect all rights of human rights defenders, including freedom of thought and expression, peaceful assembly and freedom of association."