September 2024
Letter in support of the Cessation of Hearings and Release of All University Students in Istanbul
Letter in support of the Cessation of Hearings and Release of All University Students in Istanbul
The IRF Community and Middle East Working Group circulated a letter addressing the case of fifteen young girls, aged 13 to 17, who are being coerced to testify against their families in a politically motivated trial at Istanbul’s 24th Criminal Court. Their families have been unjustly accused of terrorism due to their association with the Hizmet Movement; a peaceful social initiative focused on education and humanitarian work. Since the failed coup attempt in 2016, the Turkish government has systematically targeted Hizmet members, leading to widespread arrests, detentions, and severe human rights violations, including arbitrary imprisonment, forced interrogations, and the suppression of religious freedoms. The letter highlights the trauma these young girls are facing, the baseless accusations against their families, and the broader pattern of repression against Hizmet followers.
Informative Sources:
Solidarity with Others, May 7 Operation: An Attack on the Future
Solidarity with Others, Deadly Threat to Human Rights: Turkey’s Definition of ‘Terrorism’