UN human rights experts have said that Turkey is using a vague counterterrorism law to prosecute activists, lawyers and journalists.
The UN Human Rights Committee reviewing Turkey’s human rights record said that some provisions within its Anti-Terrorism Law are incompatible with international law and that there have been severe restraints on the right to due process since the law’s passing in 1991.
Thousands, including activists, lawyers, politicians, military officers and almost 100 journalists, have been imprisoned, most often under accusations of plotting against the government or supporting outlawed Kurdish militant groups.
The committee’s vice-chairman, Michael O’Flaherty, told a news briefing:
"We're worried about the vagueness of the definition of the terrorist act in the 1991 law and the very far-reaching, unacceptable restrictions on the right of due process for accused people and the high number of cases in which human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists and even children are charged under the anti-terrorism law,"
"Not for terrorism, but for the free expression of their opinions and ideas, in particular in the context of non-violent discussion of the Kurdish issue."
See full Reuters report here.
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