Newsletter

Dear Sir or Madam,

Please find below our current newsletter.

Kind regards

Prof. Kariane Westrheim
Chairperson

EUTCC Policy Paper: International Law, Security and Peace 

The international system is undergoing a period of rising conflicts, geopolitical rivalries and growing challenges to international law. In many regions, particularly the Middle East, unresolved political disputes, military interventions and democratic deficits continue to undermine stability and peace. At the same time, the weakening of international legal norms and institutions raises fundamental questions about the future of collective security. This statement highlights these developments, with a focus on the crisis of international law, the role of dialogue in conflict resolution, such as the dialogue process between Turkey and Abdullah Öcalan, the Kurdish question as the key to peace and stability, and the importance of inclusive political solutions. It also highlights Europe’s responsibility to promote a value-based security architecture grounded in democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

http://eutcc.net/?p=2223

Rapporteurs of European institutions address an open letter on the situation of local democracy in Turkey 

“We are therefore jointly addressing you to express our shared concerns regarding recent developments affecting local democracy in your country, and how we can work together with you to overcome these.”

https://www.coe.int/en/web/congress/-/rapporteurs-of-european-institutions-address-an-open-letter-on-the-situation-of-local-democracy-in-turkiye

UN experts urge Turkey to end criminalisation of human rights defenders and lawyers 

“We urge the Government of Türkiye to fully comply with international human rights law and to ensure that its anti terrorism legislation contains a precise and narrowly tailored definition of terrorism, consistent with the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality, and non discrimination,”

https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/03/un-experts-urge-turkiye-end-criminalisation-human-rights-defenders-and

bianet Male Violence Monitoring Report April 2026

Men killed at least 28 women and a child and injured at least 40 women, abused at least 20 girls and boys, and harassed 20 women. 

https://bianet.org/haber/men-killed-28-women-in-april-319393

Submission by Michael O’Flaherty, CoE Commissioner for Human Rights, to the ECtHR in the case of Osman Kavala 

In his submission, the Commissioner outlined that the case should be considered in the context of the pressure on dissenting voices, including human rights defenders, civil society organisations, lawyers, journalists, and opposition politicians, in Turkey.

https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/commissioner-o-flaherty-intervenes-in-the-ecthr-case-of-osman-kavala-v-t%C3%BCrkiye-no.2–

EU Turkey Civic Commission

www.eutcc.net

Twitter: @EUTCC1

Facebook: Eu Turkey Civic Commission

Instagram: @eutcc1  

Dear Sir or Madam,

Please find below our current newsletter.

Kind regards

Prof. Kariane Westrheim
Chairperson

Question by MEPs for written answer to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Whether and when will the VP/HR bring a proposal to the European Council to follow the precedence from the 2017 laying down of arms of the FARC and, consequently begin the process of removing the PKK from the EU’s terrorist list?

Request for the closure of the CHP

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has submitted a request to the Supreme Court to initiate proceedings for the closure of the CHP.

Statement by the parliamentary commission after the meeting with Abdullah Ocalan

The Commission will continue its determined and resolute stance toward achieving its goals in the upcoming period.

European Commission’s Turkey Report 

– Excessive judicial pressure on opposition politicians

– Highly centralised presidential system, which seriously weakened Parliament’s prerogatives & separation of powers

– Human rights situation deteriorated

EU Turkey Civic Commission

www.eutcc.net

Twitter: @EUTCC1

Facebook: Eu Turkey Civic Commission

Instagram: @eutcc1  

Dear Sir or Madam,

Please find below our current newsletter.

Kind regards

Prof. Kariane Westrheim
Chairperson

Our statement: Peace in Turkey is also Europe’s responsibility

The Kurdistan Freedom Movement held a press conference today in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and announced the withdrawal of its armed forces from Turkey. As EUTCC, we welcome this historic step by the Kurdish freedom movement. We call on Turkey to fulfil its legal and political obligations and urge the European Union and European institutions to actively support the process.

PR: Peace in Turkey is also Europe’s responsibility

Press conference by DEM Party Co-Chairs regarding the PKK’s withdrawal from Turkey

Tülay Hatimoğulları: Let history not judge us for failing to build peace when we had the chance

Tuncer Bakırhan: It is now time to move toward social peace through legal and political steps

Interview with Human Rights Association Co-Chair Eren Keskin regarding the PKK’s withdrawal

This is a very clear expression of the will for peace, it is very important. It is the state itself that needs to take a step.

Bianet male violence monitoring report October 2025

Men killed at least 22 women and three children in October. 79 women were subjected to violence.

BİA Media Monitoring 3rd Quarterly Report:

Media freedom in Turkey continues to suffer as the politicized judiciary extends arbitrary detentions and judicial control measures, using them as tools of intimidation instead of ending operations targeting journalists.

—
EU Turkey Civic Commission
www.eutcc.net
Twitter: @EUTCC1
Facebook: Eu Turkey Civic Commission
Instagram: @eutcc1

Dear Sir or Madam,

Please find below our current newsletter.

Kind regards
Prof. Kariane Westrheim
Chairperson

Interim Resolution of the CoE’s Committee of Ministers on Turkey in the context of the Hope to Right
The Committee of Ministers expressed deep regret that the legislative or other adequate measures required to align Turkish law with the requirements of the Convention as spelled out in these judgments have not been adopted; exhorted the authorities to take the necessary measures without further delay.

Discrimination against the Kurdish language
Amedspor, a football club based in Diyarbakır, has been fined by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) for displaying a Kurdish-language message (“Koma me bona we” – “Our group is for you”) on its team jersey. Amedspor criticized the decision as discriminatory, announcing plans to challenge it in court.

Statement by the Commission members of the DEM Party
Listening to Abdullah Öcalan by the commission should be considered as a necessity for the permanent solution of the problem.

Record number of websites blocked in Turkey in 2024
Turkey blocked access to over 311,000 web addresses last year, marking the highest annual total since the country began regulating internet content in 2007, according to a new report by the Freedom of Expression Association (İFÖD).

—
EU Turkey Civic Commission
www.eutcc.net
Twitter: @EUTCC1
Facebook: Eu Turkey Civic Commission
Instagram: @eutcc1

Dear Sir or Madam,

Please find below our current newsletter.

Kind regards

Prof. Kariane Westrheim
Chairperson

Constitutional Court rules rights violated in nearly 80,000 cases since 2012

According to data covering the period from Sep 23, 2012, to Jun 30, 2025, a total of 686,484 individual applications were submitted to the court. The court ruled that “at least one right was violated” in 79,565 cases. 

Statement by the DEM Party İmralı Delegation after the meeting with Abdullah Öcalan

Democratic society, peace and integration are three key concepts of process.

Male violence monitoring report August 

Men killed at least 23 women and seven girls in August. At least 76 women were subjected to violence.  

Report from the Association for Combating Child Abuse and Neglect

The report highlights a significant rise in recorded child sexual abuse cases in Turkey, while drawing attention to the persistent underreporting of incest.

EU Turkey Civic Commission
www.eutcc.net
Twitter: @EUTCC1
Facebook: Eu Turkey Civic Commission
Instagram: @eutcc1