In an act that shows a lack of respect for human rights the Turkish government led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stooped to a new level by arresting 15 adolescent girls aged between 13 and 17 years old. This action has led to condemnation from advocates of human rights and global onlookers who view this as part of a wider suppression of civil freedoms, in Turkey.
The young women were said to have been held in custody in order to compel them to give evidence against their siblings and parents who have been accused of having ties to Hizmet, a social movement that Erdoğan’s administration has branded as a terrorist group. This behavior has drawn criticism and is viewed as a targeted campaign, against opponents and individuals seen as dissenters of the authorities.
Critics claim that the Erdogan government is undermining the rights of its people by using intimidation tactics to intimidate families connected to Hizmet movement supporters. Enes Kanter – a former NBA player and prominent advocate for human rights – recently brought attention to this troubling pattern and shared how his father’s arrest in a bid to stifle his criticism personally affected him. This shows the extreme measures taken by the regime to quash dissent.
On May 7th there was an incident where the police detained some girls in Istanbul based on orders from the prosecutor to gather information which turned out to be false pretense and unjust treatment towards minors as they were treated as criminals without access, to legal representation and faced psychological coercion which goes against international and Turkish legal norms. United Nations guidelines stress the importance of treating child witnesses and victims with compassion, however, this aspect of treatment was blatantly ignored in this case.
The Ministry of Justice in Turkey has a history of charging minors with terrorism offenses based on recent data. Almost 20.000 children have faced such trials in recent years according to official records. Various human rights groups like Amnesty International have repeatedly highlighted concerns that Turkey misuses terrorism legislation to suppress civil organizations and dissenters; these actions have been flagged by the United Nations as possibly amounting to crimes, against humanity.
The continued harassment is more than a violation of personal liberties; it also weakens the foundation of families and communities by isolating innocent individuals from society’s mainstream fabric. The accusations against these women mostly arise from everyday endeavors like supporting their community and participating in educational initiatives that the authorities unjustly labelled as acts of terrorism.
The global community should press the government for answers to stop these serious human rights abuses from becoming commonplace. It is crucial to have an investigation overseeing these detentions. Those who champion rights warn that not holding such actions accountable will only empower the Erdogan administration to continue restricting its citizens liberties further.
The Hizmet movement draws inspiration from the teachings of Fethullah Gulen. Focuses on education and fostering dialogue among different faiths while also promoting humanitarian efforts. Imbued with an ethos yet the Turkish government has pointed fingers at it for allegedly masterminding the failed coup of 2016. An accusation that lacks concrete evidence and is widely debated. In response to this upheaval Erdogan’s administration initiated a crackdown operation targeted at those suspected of having affiliations with Hizmet. This crackdown included the closure of educational institutions the media outlets and other establishments along, with the detention of tens of thousands of individuals.
The global community has strongly voiced its disapproval of Turkeys track record on human rights issues recently reviews from Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have highlighted cases of misconduct such as unjust detentions and the limitation of freedom of speech reports Additionally the European Union and the United States have both raised alarms, about Turkeys application of anti terrorism measures to silence opposition voices.
Turkeys legal system has faced scrutiny for its perceived lack of autonomy as numerous judges and prosecutors have been substituted with individuals aligned with the government’s agenda. This situation has resulted in a system that frequently prioritizes the ruling party’s agenda, over administering justice and upholding legal principles. The incarceration of minors and the extraction of forced testimonies represent breaches of both Turkish and global legal norms.
The global community needs to listen to Enes Kanter plea for unity and taking steps against these practices. It is through united international efforts that we can address this serious issue and safeguard the rights of people in Turkey especially the young individuals impacted by this political turmoil. It is crucial for the world to keep a watch on the developments and ensure that the Turkish government remains answerable for its deeds.
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First published in this link of The European Times.
