A group of six European activists was arrested in Istanbul while meeting with lawyers from a human rights office, allegedly due to links to a terrorist group, which they and their supporters deny.
On Thursday in Istanbul, six European activists were detained following a meeting with lawyers from the People's Rights Bureau (HHB). The arrests, as indicated by Naimas Eminoglu, head of the Istanbul branch of the Progressive Lawyers Association (CHD), involved activists from several countries including Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, and Russia. This incident highlights the ongoing crackdown by Turkish authorities on organizations like the HHB, which defend individuals deemed as political opponents.
The Turkish government has frequently targeted the HHB, alleging connections between its lawyers and the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP-C), a far-left group that is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, Brussels, and Washington. The HHB has denied these accusations, emphasizing its commitment to defending human rights and providing legal support to those facing political prosecution in Turkey. This arrest appears to be part of a broader pattern of harassment against legal and human rights defenders in the country, raising serious concerns about freedom of assembly and expression.
The international delegation comprising lawyers, journalists, and rights activists had arrived in Turkey on February 18. According to Eminoglu, the police notified the activists that they were being arrested prior to being expelled from the country, with their passports confiscated and no access to legal counsel provided. This raises alarm about the Turkish authorities' treatment of foreign nationals attempting to advocate for human rights within its borders, signaling an increasingly hostile environment for human rights defenders and activists.
