Amnesty International: fear spreads in Turkish society

Amnesty International has accused the Turkish authorities of creating a terrible atmosphere of fear after failing the coup d’état in 2016 through targeting human rights’ defenders in particular.

26 April, 2018 12:10

NEWS DESK

Amnesty International published a report confirming that a terrible atmosphere of fear is spread in the Turkish society as the government continues to use the state of emergency to reduce the space reserved for opposed and alternative opinions.

The state of emergency was declared in July 2016, days after a coup d’état attempt that was conducted by opposed military officers. Ankara conducted an extraordinary purging operation which resulted in arresting more than 50,000 people, and discharging more than 140,000 others or the suspension of their functions.

The purging operation was expanded to include the advocators for the Kurds and opposition targeting judges, teachers and journalists.

The Europe Program’s director of Amnesty International Gauri Van Goleck said in a statement, "The Turkish authorities deliberately and systematically dismantled the civil society, imprisoned human rights’ defenders, closed the organizations and created an atmosphere of fear."

According to Amnesty International, the Turkish authorities have closed more than 1,300 institutions and 180 media outlets.

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