Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Nordic Monitor
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Extremism
  • Military
  • Terrorism and Crime
  • Intelligence
  • Foreign Policy
  • Contact Us
    • Give us a tip!
  • About Us
  • Home
  • Extremism
  • Military
  • Terrorism and Crime
  • Intelligence
  • Foreign Policy
  • Contact Us
    • Give us a tip!
  • About Us
No Result
View All Result
Nordic Monitor
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Extremism
  • Military
  • Terrorism and Crime
  • Intelligence
  • Foreign Policy
  • Contact Us
  • About Us

Dutch report exposes how judges and prosecutors under Erdogan’s control target opponents

February 28, 2025
A A
Dutch report exposes how judges and prosecutors under Erdogan’s control target opponents
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

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.

ShareTweet
Previous Post

Turkish media in exile under siege by Turkey’s intelligence service MIT

Next Post

FBI arrest in New York exposes Turkey’s role as a logistics hub for ISIS-K 

Levent Kenez

Levent Kenez

[email protected]

Next Post
FBI arrest in New York exposes Turkey’s role as a logistics hub for ISIS-K 

FBI arrest in New York exposes Turkey’s role as a logistics hub for ISIS-K 

Turkey’s FM criticizes nuclear weapons treaty as unjust, questions Turkish endorsement

Turkey’s FM criticizes nuclear weapons treaty as unjust, questions Turkish endorsement

July 1, 2025
EU’s aid to Turkey diverted to spying operations in Europe by Erdogan gov’t

EU’s aid to Turkey diverted to spying operations in Europe by Erdogan gov’t

June 30, 2025
Turkey to compensate Iraq for stolen Kurdish oil in a scheme that enriched Erdogan’s family

Turkey suffers heavy losses as Iraq-Turkey pipeline remains shut amid corruption and diplomatic deadlock

June 27, 2025
US designated key operatives of IRGC Quds Force who work with Turkey’s intelligence chief

Israel kills Iranian Quds Force General Shahriyari once protected by Erdogan in Turkey

June 26, 2025
Top forensic expert jailed for identifying weapons sent to jihadists by Turkey’s intel agency

Turkish intelligence secretly shipped arms to ISIS terrorist group in Syria

June 25, 2025
Turkish President Erdogan’s operative in the US put on airline blacklist

Turkish President Erdogan’s operative in the US put on airline blacklist

June 23, 2025
Turkish intelligence knew of ISIS safe houses before Reina attack, yet took no action

Turkish intelligence knew of ISIS safe houses before Reina attack, yet took no action

June 18, 2025
Kazakh medical student’s life upended by Turkish intelligence over false allegations

Kazakh medical student’s life upended by Turkish intelligence over false allegations

June 16, 2025
Turkey’s aggressive spying activities on German soil continue, secret document reveals

Germany accuses Turkey of endangering public security, conducting covert operations targeting dissidents

June 13, 2025
Turkish spies who tortured victim kidnapped from Kosovo protected by judiciary

Turkish spies who tortured victim kidnapped from Kosovo protected by judiciary

June 12, 2025

Nordic Monitor

Nordic Monitor is a news web site and tracking site that is run by the Stockholm-based Nordic Research and Monitoring Network. It covers religious, ideological and ethnic extremist movements and radical groups, with a special focus on Turkey.

Tags

al-Qaeda Andrei Karlov China coup Cyprus Diyanet Egypt espionage Germany Greece Gülen Movement Hakan Fidan Hamas Hulusi Akar Ibrahim Kalın IHH Iran IRGC Quds Force ISIL ISIS Isis al-qaida Israel Libya Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu Milli İstihbarat Teşkilatı MIT Muslim Brotherhood NATO President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Profiling Qatar Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Russia SADAT spying Spying Activities Suleyman Soylu Sweden Syria Torture Turkey Turkish Intelligence Agency Turkish intelligence agency MIT Ukraine United States

Recent News

Turkey’s FM criticizes nuclear weapons treaty as unjust, questions Turkish endorsement

Turkey’s FM criticizes nuclear weapons treaty as unjust, questions Turkish endorsement

July 1, 2025
EU’s aid to Turkey diverted to spying operations in Europe by Erdogan gov’t

EU’s aid to Turkey diverted to spying operations in Europe by Erdogan gov’t

June 30, 2025
Turkey to compensate Iraq for stolen Kurdish oil in a scheme that enriched Erdogan’s family

Turkey suffers heavy losses as Iraq-Turkey pipeline remains shut amid corruption and diplomatic deadlock

June 27, 2025

Copyright © Nordic Research and Monitoring Network All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Extremism
  • Military
  • Terrorism and Crime
  • Intelligence
  • Foreign Policy
  • Contact Us
    • Give us a tip!
  • About Us

Copyright © Nordic Research and Monitoring Network All rights reserved.