[OPINION] US report sounds the alarm over Turkey’s rights record

18.08.2025

By Turkish Minute

Source:https://www.turkishminute.com/2025/08/18/opinion-us-report-sounds-the-alarm-over-turkeys-rights-record/

Adem Yavuz Arslan*

When the US Department of State releases its annual human rights report, the world listens. Far more than a bureaucratic exercise, the report serves as a mirror reflecting how countries respect democracy, the rule of law and fundamental freedoms.

Turkey’s entry in the recently published 2024 human rights report stretches to 34 pages — and every one of them reads like an indictment. From flawed elections to censorship, from allegations of extrajudicial killings to violations of labor and child rights, the report portrays a democracy in name only. It warns that while Turkish citizens technically cast ballots among “genuine political alternatives,” a lopsided media landscape, relentless censorship and restrictions on free expression and assembly have hollowed out real political competition. Even the opposition’s recent victories in mayoralties and parliamentary seats are presented as rare exceptions against an entrenched climate of repression.

Women’s rights removed as a category

Yet the very report that levels such damning criticism at Ankara is itself sparking controversy in Washington. According to NPR, this year’s edition quietly removed significant sections on women’s rights and minority protections — eliminating a standalone chapter on women’s issues and omitting references to diversity, equity, inclusion, sexual violence and abuses against minorities and LGBT individuals.

Since the 1970s these reports have served as a comprehensive record of abuses worldwide. But this year’s publication was delayed for months after the State Department was instructed to make it “simpler” and “aligned with presidential executive orders.” Human rights advocates condemned the changes, with Amnesty International warning that the omission of fundamental issues like discrimination and attacks on civil society “will weaken the fight against these violations worldwide.”

Turkey’s report card is full of cracks

For Turkey, a NATO member strategically positioned at the crossroads of Europe and the Middle East, the report carries significant diplomatic and economic weight. International investors, foreign governments and global organizations rely on these findings to gauge trustworthiness, stability and the potential for cooperation.

The 2024 report paints a troubling picture. From election irregularities to curbs on press freedom and arbitrary detentions, Turkey’s democratic institutions are under strain. Censorship, judicial harassment of journalists, self-censorship and intimidation of civil society have become pervasive. Even more alarming are Turkey’s extraterritorial actions — abductions, passport cancellations and travel restrictions imposed on dissidents abroad — which highlight the global consequences of domestic repression.

Elections under siege

The March 2024 local elections offered rare glimpses of political choice, yet the playing field was heavily skewed. Media bias, censorship and restrictions on public assembly limited democratic expression. The ruling party exploited these inequities, leaving opposition gains constrained to a few municipal offices and parliamentary seats.

The cost of conflict

State actors, or those acting on behalf of the state, have been implicated in extrajudicial killings and unlawful deaths. Civilian lives have been lost in confrontations with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), and cross-border military operations in Syria and Iraq have claimed civilian victims. In December 2024 the Committee to Protect Journalists reported the death of two journalists killed by Turkish drones in northern Syria. UN investigations have also pointed to torture carried out by Turkey-backed armed groups.

Press freedom under siege

The government routinely uses laws against “insulting the president,” “spreading false information” and “terrorist propaganda” to stifle criticism. Between September 2023 and July 2024, 366 journalists faced prosecution for their reporting. Thousands of websites and social media posts were blocked, while Kurdish-language media and pro-Kurdish journalists endured the harshest repression. A climate of fear and self-censorship now permeates journalism, academia and public discourse.

Arbitrary detentions and legal abuse

Despite legal protections, arbitrary detentions are rampant. In terrorism-related cases, detention can last six to 12 days, while pretrial detention can last up to seven years. By September 2024, 52,066 individuals were awaiting trial in pretrial detention — around 15 percent of the prison population. Politically motivated prosecutions routinely flout the law.

Exerting pressure beyond borders

Turkey’s reach extends well beyond its borders. Dissidents abroad face abductions, family intimidation, passport cancellations and travel restrictions. INTERPOL Red Notices have been weaponized politically, while countries such as Kenya extradited Turkish dissidents under pressure. Partnerships with Central Asian states further restrict safe havens for activists.

A democracy in shadow

Turkey may project the image of a functioning democracy, but its institutions are eroding. Suppression of press freedom, arbitrary detentions and cross-border repression raise serious concerns about the country’s adherence to the rule of law.

International scrutiny, exemplified by the US human rights report, signals that Turkey’s global reputation is at risk. Without immediate reforms to protect fundamental rights, the world may continue to witness Turkey’s silent struggle — a democracy under siege, its freedoms fading from the global stage.

*Adem Yavuz Arslan is a journalist with over two decades of experience in political reporting, investigative journalism and international conflict coverage. His work has focused on Turkey’s political landscape, including detailed reporting on the 2016 coup attempt and its aftermath, as well as broader issues related to media freedom and human rights. He has reported from conflict zones such as Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq, and has conducted in-depth research on high-profile cases, including the assassination of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. Arslan is the author of four books and has received journalism awards for his investigative work. Currently living in exile in Washington, D.C., he continues his journalism through digital media platforms, including his YouTube channel, Turkish Minute, TR724 and X.