Solidarity with OTHERS

What does the ECtHR say in Yasak v. Türkiye? On 5 May 2026, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights delivered its judgment in Yasak v. Türkiye, finding violations of Article 7 and Article 3 of the Convention. The legal terms and reasoning are explained in detail in the judgment. However, what can be understood from the judgment beyond legal language? Why is this judgment important? What does it mean in practice? And why does it matter for thousands of people affected by broad accusations in Türkiye? In this short video, we try to explain the judgment in a clear, simple and accessible way.

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Last week's summary on #TurkeyRightsMonitor

#URGENT We call on #Denmark to halt the #deportation of Tuğba Koç to #Turkey. Tuğba Koç is a 29-year-old Turkish mathematics teacher whose asylum claim was rejected despite Danish authorities accepting her links to the Gülen movement. If returned, she may face prosecution, detention and persecution in a country where peaceful social, educational and humanitarian activities have been treated as criminal evidence. Denmark must uphold the principle of "non-refoulement" and ensure that no one is sent back to a place where they face a real risk of arbitrary detention, unfair trial or ill-treatment.

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Last week's summary on #TurkeyRightsMonitor

📍On 5th May 2026, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (#ECtHR) delivered its landmark judgment in Yasak v. Türkiye. The Court made clear that individuals cannot be convicted of terrorism solely because they worked for, or were associated with, institutions linked to the Gülen movement. ✅The judgment recognises that the movement was deeply embedded in Turkish society through schools, charities, businesses, hospitals, universities and other civil institutions. Association alone is not enough to establish criminal liability. The Court reaffirmed a fundamental principle of criminal law: conviction for membership of a terrorist organisation requires proof of intent to contribute to violence or terrorist acts. In Mr Yasak’s case, no such intent was established. His conviction and sentence of 7 years and 6 months were therefore found to violate #Article7 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Following the Court’s earlier judgment in Yalçınkaya v. Türkiye, which still awaits full implementation, this ruling further underlines the urgent need for Türkiye to review thousands of convictions based on mere association rather than demonstrable criminal intent. This judgment has far-reaching implications for the tens of thousands convicted in similar cases after 2016. Watch the press conference for judgment delivery: youtube.com/watch?v=NwbRHL…

What happens after a journalist leaves everything behind to stay safe? ▶️ Our new #report "Exiled Voices in an Age of Transnational Repression" on the experiences of exiled journalists living across Europe has been released. ▶️ Over the past months, we spoke with 25 journalists and media workers from 15 countries who were forced to leave because of their work. Some had been imprisoned. Some faced threats, raids, harassment, or pressure on their families. Many arrived in Europe hoping the danger would finally stop. But one message came through again and again: the repression often continues across borders. ▶️ Journalists told us about online attacks, fear for relatives back home, cancelled passports, legal uncertainty, financial hardship, and the loneliness of rebuilding life in exile while still trying to continue their work. Several described feeling physically safer, but never fully free from pressure. At the same time, almost all of them are still reporting. ▶️ They continue through diaspora media, independent platforms, collaborations, and social media networks. They continue documenting corruption, censorship, political repression, gender-based violence, and human rights abuses in the countries they were forced to leave. We are deeply grateful to everyone who trusted us with their experiences and allowed these stories to be documented. Read and share the report : solidaritywithothers.com/exiled-journal…

Yesterday, we hosted the second edition of "Press Freedom Talks" moderated by Selçuk Gültaşlı at Press Club Brussels to mark #World #Press #Freedom #Day with a discussion on #journalism in #exile and #transnational #repression. First of all, big thank you to our speakers Stephen Reimer, Ena Bavčić, Levent Kenez and Ebrahim Mahfoud, who shared their researches, initiatives and deeply personal experiences about what it means to continue journalistic work in exile. Stephen Reimer spoke about the growing #misuse of #financial #systems and anti-money laundering frameworks against #journalists and dissidents, explaining how banking restrictions, #financial #surveillance and international information-sharing mechanisms can become tools of repression far beyond borders. Ena Bavčić presented European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)’s work supporting journalists in exile through monitoring, advocacy, legal and psychological support, security referrals and professional assistance. She underlined the need for stronger protection mechanisms, especially for family members of exiled journalists who often remain exposed to pressure in their home countries. Levent Kenez shared his own experience as an exiled #Turkish journalist, speaking about threats against his family, #extradition attempts, surveillance, #smear campaigns and online hashtag#censorship. His testimony was a powerful reminder that for many journalists, exile does not end the pressure. Ebrahim Mahfoud spoke movingly about the struggle of trying to #rebuild a journalistic #career in Europe while constantly having to prove your legitimacy and experience. He also stressed how important exiled journalists are in helping European audiences understand the realities of conflicts and repression in countries like Syria. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this important discussion and to our speakers for their openness, honesty and insights.

Our Research Fellow @fikret_dem has recently participated in Cambridge Institute of Criminology PhD Conference 2026 where he presented his study "Victimology of State Repression: A Grounded Theory of Victimization Under Democratic Backsliding in Türkiye". We congratulate him on his excellent presentation and valuable work. 👏

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Last week's summary on #TurkeyRightsMonitor

🔴Human Cost of State Repression in Turkey (as of 1st January 2026)

#Report | Institutionalized Repression – Human Rights in Turkey 2025 We are pleased to share our latest report documenting the human rights situation in Turkey throughout 2025. ▶️Human rights conditions in Turkey continued to deteriorate in 2025, reflecting the deepening of structural and institutional patterns of repression. ▶️Authorities maintained the widespread use of broadly defined anti-terrorism legislation to target perceived opponents, including journalists, civil society actors, and individuals allegedly linked to the Gülen movement, despite binding rulings from the European Court of Human Rights. ▶️Arbitrary detention, politically motivated prosecutions, and restrictions on fundamental freedoms,including expression, assembly, and media,remained pervasive, while judicial independence continued to be undermined by systemic political influence. ▶️At the same time, prison overcrowding, allegations of torture and ill-treatment, and serious concerns regarding access to healthcare in detention persisted. ▶️Minority groups, women, refugees, and human rights defenders faced additional layers of discrimination and pressure, while transnational repression extended the reach of domestic crackdowns beyond Turkey’s borders. 📄 Read the full report: solidaritywithothers.com/institutionali… We invite policymakers, civil society, and the international community to engage with these findings and support efforts toward accountability and reform.

Final days to register⏳ Press Freedom Talks: Exiled Voices in an Age of Transnational Repression. Across Europe, many journalists continue their work in exile, but the risks don’t stop at the border. Surveillance, intimidation, and harassment remain a daily reality. This panel brings together exiled journalists and experts to discuss these challenges and what must change to better protect press freedom. 📅 5 May 2026 🕒 15:30 CET 📍 Press Club Brussels | Rue Froissart 95, 1040 Brussels 🔗 Registration: lnkd.in/e23qFwi9 Join the conversation.

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Last week's summary on #TurkeyRightsMonitor

📢You’re invited to the panel discussion! Press Freedom Talks: Exiled Voices in an Age of Transnational Repression Across Europe, many #journalists continue their work in #exile after fleeing persecution, censorship, war, and threats to their safety. Yet crossing a border does not always end the danger. Exiled journalists often remain exposed to #surveillance, #intimidation, #harassment, and other forms of #transnational #repression. This discussion will bring together exiled journalists, experts, and press freedom advocates to reflect on the lived realities of journalism in exile, existing protection gaps, and policy recommendations needed to strengthen free media, democracy, and the public’s right to information. 📅 Date: 5 May 2026 🕒 Time: 15:30 CET 📍 Location: Press Club Brussels | Rue Froissart 95, 1040 Brussels The event will be held in English. 🔗 Registration: lnkd.in/ekyfzkhr We look forward to welcoming you to this timely discussion.