Fundamental Freedoms in Turkey
Freedom House worked to assist civil society to defend and advance fundamental freedoms and rights enshrined in Turkey’s national and international obligations.
Advancing Fundamental Freedoms in Turkey
Turkey remains one of most challenging places in the European region to exercise fundamental freedoms. In this challenging environment, Freedom House sought to empower civil society to contribute to the improvement of fundamental freedoms in Turkey and to advocate with national and international decision makers to uphold the country’s human rights commitments.
This project aimed to create a common ground for different civil society actors to address human rights issues in the country. Freedom House and its partners responded threats to fundamental freedoms by providing litigation support, research and analysis, support for grassroots initiatives, and advocacy.
Partner organizations:
- Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA)
- Freedom Research Association (FRA)
- Civic Space Studies Association (CSSA)
Policy Brief Series
Freedom House aimed to create a platform for analysts, experts and civil society actors to address a variety of topical human rights issues in the country. These briefs allow non-traditional authors, such as lawyers, university faculty, and students to write forward-looking briefs on themes covering fundamental freedoms in Turkey. The last policy brief in the series analyzed the impact of the increasing crackdown on Turkey’s LGBTI+ community and pathways for civil society and other stakeholders to protect LGBTI+ rights.
Worsening Repression in Turkey: The Ongoing Crackdown on the LGBTI+ Community
The seventh policy brief of the “Advancing Fundamental Freedoms in Turkey” policy series, outlines the recent history of LGBTI+ activism in Turkey and discusses how The Justice and Development Party (AKP), led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has tightened its grip on power by implementing a raft of antidemocratic policies, including an increasing crackdown on the LGBTQI+ community in Turkey. and the role of relevant stakeholders to protect LGBTQI+ rights in the context of defending fundamental freedoms in Turkey. It closes with a set of recommendations for how the European Union (EU), Council of Europe (COE), Turkish opposition parties, rights activists, and donors can push back against the AKP’s crackdown— which not only violates the rights of LGBTI+ individuals but has more broadly damaged fundamental rights in Turkey.
The Role of Civil Society in the Post-Earthquake Period in Turkey
The sixth policy brief of the “Advancing Fundamental Freedoms in Turkey” policy series, focuses on how Turkish civil society stepped up after the massive earthquake to fill the void the inaction of state agencies created. Author Yunus Furkan Arıcan lists various policy recommendations and fields of potential cooperation among political parties and NGOs. The brief also underlines the importance for post-earthquake efforts to go beyond collecting donations and use human rights advocacy to challenge the government’s antidemocratic stance on Turkish civil society.
The Impact of Turkey’s Recent Amendments to the Electoral Laws on Fundamental Freedoms and Electoral Integrity
The fifth policy brief of the “Advancing Fundamental Freedoms in Turkey” policy series, focuses on the amendments to the Law on Elections before the June 2023 elections. “The Impact of Turkey’s Recent Amendments to the Electoral Laws on Fundamental Freedoms and Electoral Integrity” discusses the problematic changes that have been adopted by the Turkish Parliament undermining fundamental freedoms and electoral participation in Turkey. Expert Başak Bozkurt offers recommendations to civil society organizations, the media, opposition parties, international organizations, and social media companies on how to protect electoral integrity following the adoption of these amendments.
The Systematic Decline of the Freedom of Expression in Turkey
In the fourth policy brief of the “Advancing Fundamental Freedoms in Turkey,” author İpek Z. Ruacan investigates the systematic decline of freedom of expression in Turkey through the lens of anti-terrorism legislation and culture wars.
"Smart" Repression at work: Shrinking Space for Academic Freedom in Turkey
The third brief of the “Advancing Fundamental Freedoms in Turkey” policy series focuses on the increasing crackdown on academia and shrinking space for academic freedom in Turkey. Political scientist İlker Kalın places the government’s attempts to silence academia and civil society into a broad perspective by introducing the concept of “smart” repression. The brief investigates the government’s systematic repression through simulated democratic actions and discusses its implications.
Withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention: War on Gender Equality in Turkey
The second policy brief of the “Advancing Fundamental Freedoms in Turkey” policy series, focuses on the reasons behind Turkey’s attempted withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention while also analyzing the withdrawal decision from a legal perspective. Experts Berfu Şeker and Ezel Buse Sönmezocak reveal the ruling AKP’s long-lasting anti-gender policies and examine potential impacts of the attempted withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention on women’s rights and LGBT+ rights.
Stifling Lawyers and Bar Associations: Restrictions undermining the right to legal defense in Turkey
Experts Benan Molu and İdil Özcan examine the increasing attacks on lawyers and their right to free association in Turkey since the state of emergency in 2016. This brief provides a comprehensive analysis of how the recent government policies and legislation create obstacles for lawyers to fully perform their fundamental duties of legal counsel and defense.
Past Programming in Turkey
Protection of Freedom of Expression in Turkey (2019-2020)
In July 2020, Freedom House, together with RIWI Corp, released a new report on freedom of expression and the media in Turkey. The presence of a vibrant landscape for free expression may seem contradictory, given that Turkey regularly tops global charts for the number of journalists jailed, and is ranked as Not Free in Freedom in the World. This report reveals opportunities for free expression among Turkey's dynamic population, where preferences are shifting from traditional outlets to online platforms. From these contradictions rise not only a clearer picture of the contours of expression, but also hope that this fundamental right can still be exercised.
News & Perspectives on Turkey
Freedom House and partner organizations call for action as press freedom violations surge in Turkey in 2025
Joint statement
ڕەشەمێ 5, 2025
Joint letter to European Commission President: EU should oppose Türkiye’s “agent of influence” bill
Advocacy letter
بەفرانبار 10, 2024
