Levent Kenez/Stockholm
A recent report released by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs suggests that human rights violations in Turkey have persisted, with increasing suppression of opposition groups, ethnic minorities and activists. Covering the period from September 2023 to February 2025, the report underscores a continued erosion of democratic freedoms and judicial independence in the country.
The Turkish judiciary, reportedly under significant political influence, has played a critical role in prosecuting political opponents, journalists and human rights defenders. The Constitutional Court remains subject to pressure, with many judges appointed directly by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The report claims that legal proceedings against opposition figures have increased and that the government has continued to dismiss elected officials, particularly those affiliated with pro-Kurdish parties.
Erdogan’s influence over the judiciary, mentioned in the report, rapidly increased after 2016. In the aftermath of a controversial coup attempt in July 2016, Erdogan tightened his grip on power, consolidating his control over the judicial, legislative and executive branches. Mere hours after the coup had begun, his government initiated a sweeping purge, removing 4,156 judges and prosecutors from their posts — an indication that these individuals had likely been blacklisted beforehand. Their positions were quickly filled by government loyalists, many of whom were selected from within the ranks of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
One of the most striking findings in the report concerns the ongoing crackdown on individuals suspected of links to the Gülen movement, a faith-based group critical of the government. The Turkish intelligence agency (Milli İstihbarat Teşkilatı or MİT) has played a key role in tracking and detaining alleged Gülenists both within Turkey and abroad. The report highlights numerous cases where suspected members have been detained without due process, subjected to forced disappearances or extradited from foreign countries through covert operations.
The scope of the persecution has widened dramatically in recent years. Once limited to civil servants and military officers, the crackdown now extends to business owners, journalists, students and even ordinary citizens accused of showing sympathy for the movement. Critics argue that many of those targeted have been convicted based on weak and circumstantial evidence, such as having an account at a Gülen-affiliated bank, attending a school linked to the movement or merely downloading a messaging app called ByLock associated with Gülenists. Some individuals have reportedly been imprisoned for years without fair trials, often facing harsh interrogation tactics.
According to the report, MİT has been particularly active in securing the extradition of Gülenists from foreign countries, especially in Africa and the Balkans. The agency has reportedly conducted covert rendition operations, which led to international criticism. The Turkish government defends these operations as necessary counterterrorism measures, but human rights groups warn that extradited individuals often face imprisonment under dire conditions, with allegations of mistreatment and torture surfacing in multiple cases.
Family members of suspected Gülenists have also suffered. The report details instances where spouses and children of accused individuals have been denied passports, barred from educational opportunities and subjected to police harassment. Some families have fled Turkey, seeking asylum in Europe and North America, while others live in fear of sudden arrest. The climate of fear extends beyond Turkey’s borders, as Turkish embassies have allegedly pressured expatriates to provide information on suspected Gülenists in exchange for consular services.
The report refers to a significant ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) regarding the Turkish government’s treatment of alleged Gülenists. The court found that Turkey had violated multiple articles of the European Convention on Human Rights, particularly concerning the right to a fair trial and protection from arbitrary detention. The ruling details cases where people were imprisoned based on insufficient evidence, such as alleged use of the ByLock messaging app or tenuous financial links to Gülen-affiliated institutions. Despite the ECtHR’s decision, the report claims that Turkish authorities have largely disregarded the ruling, refusing to implement legal remedies or release detainees, further exacerbating concerns over judicial independence and due process in the country.
Text of the Dutch report:
Reports of torture and mistreatment in detention facilities persist. Political prisoners and detainees linked to opposition groups report abuse, a lack of medical care and overcrowded prisons. Human rights organizations struggle to document cases due to government-imposed restrictions on monitoring visits.
The Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) has faced increasing pressure from the authorities. The report details how democratically elected DEM Party mayors have been removed from office and replaced with government-appointed trustees. Security forces have also cracked down on Kurdish cultural expression, including language and media. Additionally, reports of the arbitrary arrest and detention of Kurdish activists and politicians continue to surface.
Alevi communities face systemic discrimination, while Armenians and Jews continue to report hate speech and hostility. Protestant groups also face restrictions, including visa denials for foreign clergy. These communities struggle with limitations on religious freedoms and political representation.
Violence against women remains a major concern, with a significant rise in femicides reported. Despite international criticism, Turkey withdrew from the Istanbul Convention, an international treaty aimed at preventing violence against women. Women’s rights activists face increasing government restrictions and police crackdowns on protests advocating for gender equality.
LGBTQ+ individuals continue to face discrimination and violence. The Turkish government has intensified its anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, banning Pride parades and censoring pro-LGBTQ+ content in the media. Activists and organizations advocating for LGBTQ+ rights face legal persecution and restrictions on their activities.
The Turkish government continues to restrict freedom of expression through the enforcement of the Anti-Disinformation Law. Journalists critical of the government are frequently prosecuted, and independent media outlets face censorship and fines. Social media monitoring and restrictions have increased, further limiting public discourse.
Nordic Monitor previously reported that Turkey has once again found itself among the countries with the most human rights violations in Europe, according to the ECtHR annual report for 2024. Turkey continues to top the list for the highest number of pending human rights applications before the court, with 21,613 cases still unresolved out of a total of 60,350, making up 35.8 percent of all pending applications. Russia follows with approximately 8,150 cases, while Ukraine has 7,700, Romania 3,850 and Greece 2,600. The substantial number of Turkish cases underscores the depth of human rights concerns in the country and its outsized role in the court’s backlog. The report also emphasizes that Turkey has been a persistent violator of the European Convention on Human Rights, with structural legal and judicial deficiencies repeatedly resulting in unfavorable rulings.
Despite legal rulings against the Turkish government, authorities have often refused to implement ECtHR decisions. The Dutch report warns that Turkey’s continued disregard for human rights obligations may further strain its relations with the European Union and other international bodies.
