In a pivotal moment captured on February 27, 2025, Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), advocated for an end to a protracted armed insurgency against Turkey. This call should serve as a crucial impetus for the cessation of the government’s abusive use of terrorism laws to suppress critics, including politicians, journalists, and human rights activists. Despite this diplomatic opening, many still face arbitrary detention linked to their legitimate, peaceful activities. Notably, opposition figures like Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ remain imprisoned for over eight years, even as European human rights courts demand their release.
Hugh Williamson, Human Rights Watch’s Europe and Central Asia director, urged the Erdoğan administration to use this critical moment constructively. “The Erdoğan government should seize the moment… and as a first step, drop unfounded criminal charges against those accused of PKK links simply for exercising their rights to free speech,” he stated. He called for a reassessment of all convictions under such accusations and urged for reforms to end the misuse of the criminal justice system.
The manipulation of terrorism charges in Turkey has consistently resulted in widespread human rights violations. Reports indicate severe abuses stemming from the criminalisation of dissent and unjust prosecutions targeting Kurdish politicians, including elected mayors and civil activists. The European Court of Human Rights has indicated that Turkish authorities frequently violate the rights of those linked to PKK through protests and other nonviolent exchanges.
Recent months have seen a notable uptick in politically motivated terrorism investigations led by Istanbul’s chief prosecutor. This trend palpably demonstrates the state’s intent to repress political opposition. Authorities are leveraging terrorism accusations to replace elected mayors with appointees loyal to the government, notably in municipalities governed by the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) and the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).
In a concerning development, the Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office has targeted CHP-controlled municipalities, claiming these officials are affiliated with the PKK through the HDK, an unbanned opposition platform comprised of various leftist and Kurdish groups. The pattern emerged starkly following the arrest of Ahmet Özer, an esteemed university professor and mayor, based on unverified claims of PKK membership.
Most recently, on February 13, ten elected council members faced charges of PKK membership, stemming from their involvement with the DEM party and the CHP during local elections. Furthermore, 50 additional individuals from political, journalistic, and civil society backgrounds now find themselves under investigation. The authorities are broadly accusing them of being PKK affiliates due to their links with the lawful HDK platform, intensifying fears of state-sanctioned persecution.
Öcalan’s recent call to end an insurgency offers a crucial chance for Turkey to halt the abusive application of terrorism laws against dissenters. Political figures such as Demirtaş and Yüksekdağ languish in jail, despite European rulings for their release. A troubling spike in politically charged prosecutions highlights ongoing rights violations by the Turkish government, which substitutes democratically elected leaders with loyal appointees in Kurdish regions.
The February 27, 2025 call by Öcalan represents a significant opportunity for the Turkish government to amend its contentious policies against dissent. Human Rights Watch identifies a worrying trend of legal abuses that threaten freedom of expression and the integrity of democratic institutions. As long as the government employs terrorism charges to silence opposition, the promise of peace will remain unfulfilled, perpetuating the cycle of repression and unrest.
Original Source: www.hrw.org
