Ankara, Turkey – December 6, 2024 – Nimet Tanrıkulu, a prominent woman human rights defender and feminist, was arrested on November 30, 2024, following a prolonged detention. Tanrıkulu, a founding member of the Human Rights Association (HRA) and Women for Peace Initiative, has been a vocal advocate for human rights in Turkey for decades. Her arrest comes as part of a wider crackdown on politicians, trade unionists, and human rights defenders across the country.
A History of Advocacy and Persecution
Tanrıkulu has a long history of advocating for human rights, especially for women and marginalized groups. She has supported the Saturday Mothers, a group campaigning for justice for victims of forced disappearances. Tanrıkulu’s dedication to human rights dates back to her own imprisonment and torture during the 1980 military coup in Turkey, experiences that sparked her commitment to justice. Over the years, she has faced multiple arrests, detentions, and prosecutions due to her work. In 2005, she was awarded the Sevinç Özgüner Human Rights, Peace, and Democracy Award by the Istanbul Medical Chamber.
The Arrest and Legal Proceedings
Tanrıkulu was among 14 individuals detained on November 26, 2024, during a mass operation carried out by Turkish authorities. This operation targeted individuals accused of links to terrorist organizations, a charge based on secret witness testimonies and surveillance data. Tanrıkulu, along with others, was questioned about her past travels and communications dating as far back as 2008.
The prosecutor’s office requested pre-trial detention for Tanrıkulu and others on suspicion of membership in a terrorist organization, a charge often leveled against critics of the government. Despite the lack of solid evidence, Tanrıkulu was remanded into pre-trial detention on November 30. She was transferred to Sincan Women’s Prison in Ankara, where she remains. Notably, earlier investigations into similar charges against Tanrıkulu in 2012 and 2018 were dismissed due to lack of evidence.
International Outcry and Calls for Release
Human rights organizations, including Front Line Defenders, have expressed grave concern over Tanrıkulu’s arrest. They argue that her detention is politically motivated and related to her peaceful human rights work. Front Line Defenders has called for her immediate and unconditional release, stressing that using anti-terror laws to silence human rights defenders undermines Turkey’s international human rights commitments.
Furthermore, the organization has raised concerns about the use of secret witness testimonies and surveillance data as the basis for charges, citing violations of fair trial standards under international law. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has repeatedly ruled against such practices, urging Turkey to ensure that human rights defenders can carry out their work free from harassment.
Conclusion
Tanrıkulu’s arrest highlights the ongoing challenges faced by human rights defenders in Turkey, where state-led crackdowns on civil society have become increasingly common. As authorities continue to target activists and organizations, it is crucial that international bodies and governments pressure Turkey to uphold the rights of its citizens to free expression, assembly, and association.
Human rights defenders like Tanrıkulu play a vital role in advocating for justice, equality, and human dignity. Their ongoing work and the risks they face must be recognized and supported by the international community.
