Turkish rights curbs fuel self-
10.11.2026
By Turkish Minute
Source:https://www.turkishminute.com/2026/11/10/turkish-
Journalists and activists are increasingly resorting to self-
“The common consequence of all the pressure practices is the creation of an environment in which people become reluctant to emphasise their rights or speak out,” Ruhat Sena Akşener told a news conference at COP31 in Antalya.
“This is what we call a ‘chilling effect’ which affects all of society,” she said.
For years Amnesty had documented “serious restrictions” on freedom of expression, the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of association in Turkey but in recent times, such restrictions were “becoming even more severe,” Akşener said.
She pointed to recent crackdowns targeting Turkey’s LGBTQ community, the political opposition and the media.
Environmental campaigners are also regularly arrested and their demonstrations blocked by the police, making it much harder for their voices to be heard.
“When human rights advocates and environmental rights advocates are pressured, the
voice of one side of the table is never heard. This disrupts equality. You cannot
achieve climate justice this way,” she told Agence France-
A huge march planned for Saturday on the sidelines of COP31 by civil society groups, NGOs and other activists will be a key test for Turkey.
“This peaceful protest should not be obstructed in any way,” she said. “If COP 31 is being held in Turkey, the state must fulfil its obligations and ensure that it takes place in a completely safe manner,” she insisted.
But Murat Kurum, Turkey’s environment minister and COP31 president, said demonstrators acting peacefully ran no risk of being detained.
“No one has been arrested in Turkey for taking part in peaceful demonstrations. We have provided that assurance to all countries in connection with COP,” he said.
© Agence France-