UN experts call on Turkey to stop using anti-terror laws against activists

They demand the “immediate” release of Sebnem Korur, a forensic expert in the fight against torture

Nov. 9 (EUROPA PRESS) –

A group of United Nations experts has demanded that Turkey end the use of anti-terrorist legislation to “intimidate human rights defenders” and has called for the “immediate” release of Sebnem Korur Fincanci, a forensic expert in the fight against recently stopped torture.

Fincanci, who helped develop the UN reference standards in the investigation and documentation of torture cases, under the Istanbul Protocol, was arrested on October 26 for “unclear reasons” after she asked to investigate the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Turkish Army.

UN experts have highlighted that “Fincanci’s arrest appears to be part of a deliberate pattern of applying anti-terrorism legislation to discredit human rights defenders and organizations and disrupt their vital work in medical and human rights matters.”

“We have documented many cases in which the anti-terrorism law and other criminal clauses have been used to harass, arrest, detain and sentence civil society actors in Turkey, including Fincanci, with spurious arguments,” they denounced.

In this sense, they regretted that these attacks seek to limit civil space and undermine the rule of law, while recalling that “detention pending investigation beyond the interview period is an exceptional measure that must have authorization to maintain legality and proportionality”.

“The ability of human rights defenders and medical workers to speak truth to power must be protected. Their role in exposing human rights violations is one of the pillars of democratic societies and, like the rights of expression and association are protected by Humanitarian Law”, they argued.

Finally, they recalled that Turkey is a party to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, while emphasizing that they have asked the Turkish authorities for “immediate interim measures” to protect “the integrity physical and mental” of Fincanci.