Rights group welcomes acquittal of Türkiye lawyer amid ongoing repression of human rights activists News
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Rights group welcomes acquittal of Türkiye lawyer amid ongoing repression of human rights activists

Amnesty International on Thursday welcomed the acquittal of prominent refugee rights lawyer and former chair of the organization’s Türkiye branch, Taner Kılıç, following an eight-year judicial process but expressed concern over continued repression of human rights activists.

In its statement, the human rights organization said that Kılıç’s case exemplifies the Turkish authorities’ attempts to criminalize human rights advocacy through politically motivated prosecutions.

Amnesty regards Kılıç’s acquittal as a significant demonstration of the impact of collective action in challenging injustice. However, the organization emphasized that this outcome is tempered by a renewed wave of detentions and investigations affecting more than 1,600 individuals accused of affiliations with pro-Kurdish groups. Among those recently arrested are human rights defenders, journalists, and political activists, underscoring persistent concerns regarding freedom of expression and association in Turkey.

Kılıç, a renowned refugee rights lawyer, was arrested in June 2017 and accused of “terrorism” for attending a meeting on Büyükada Island in Istanbul. He was among 11 human rights defenders targeted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who alleged that the meeting was part of a plot to continue a coup attempt against his administration.

Amnesty said that, despite the absence of credible evidence, Kılıç was initially convicted and sentenced to more than six years in prison for alleged membership in a terrorist organization. The charges against Kılıç and the other defendants were criticized as baseless and politically motivated. Amnesty and other human rights organizations argued that the prosecution was aimed at silencing independent civil society voices in Türkiye. The case drew international attention, with many calling for the acquittal of the defendants.

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