Turkey’s Long Suppressed Kurds

Freedom of expression in Turkey is under sustained and increasing attack. Since the failed coup attempt in July 2016, academics, journalists and writers who criticize the government risk criminal investigation and prosecution, intimidation, harassment and censorship. The severity of the Turkish government’s repression of the media is such that it has been described by some as the “death of journalism”.

At least 70 people accused of links to a Kurdish militant group were arrested in raids across the country. They included politicians, doctors, lawyers, journalists and civil society activists who were picked up in dawn raids in connection with an ongoing investigation launched against the Democratic Society Congress (DTK). The group advocates greater rights for Turkey’s long suppressed Kurds.

The arrests are seen as a further manifestation of factional infighting in Erdogan’s ruling coalition, composed of his Justice and Development party (AKP) and his informal coalition partner the Nationalist Action Party, led by veteran far-Right politician Devlet Bahceli. Tensions burst into full view following the shock resignation of Erdogan’s son in law and finance minister Berat Albayrak on Nov 8.

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) joined in the calls for the immediate release of all the detainees. They include 26 lawyers. “Lawyers are often subject to bogus charges in Turkey to curb their work, including in defense of human rights and the exercise of their freedom of expression,” said Roisin Pillay, director of the ICJ’s Europe and Central Asia Program. 

Recent opinion polls suggest that Erdogan and the AKP could lose in any fair contest. With more than 120 journalists and other media workers imprisoned, independent journalism in Turkey is at the edge of the precipice.