National Council on Civil Advocacy

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National Council on Civil Advocacy Advocating for the improvement of human rights, democracy, freedom of expression, and rule of law in Turkey

NCCA seeks to promote and advocate for the improvement of human rights, democracy, freedom of expression and rule of law in Turkey, to help protect Turkish-Americans from transnational repression, and to help raise the significance of human rights concerns in U.S.-Turkey relations.

Kavala: Court's Refusal Damages Judicial CredibilityImprisoned since 2017, Osman Kavala has criticized an Istanbul court...
10/16/2026

Kavala: Court's Refusal Damages Judicial Credibility

Imprisoned since 2017, Osman Kavala has criticized an Istanbul court's refusal to grant him a retrial, despite a binding European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgment ordering his release.

In a new statement, Kavala accused the court of arbitrarily interpreting legal provisions rather than ending a serious human rights violation. He warned that the decision "also damages the reputation of the judiciary."

The ECtHR's August 25 ruling found that his prosecution amounted to a flagrant denial of justice. Yet Kavala remains imprisoned, serving an aggravated life sentence.

Binding human rights judgments must be implemented. Continued noncompliance raises fundamental concerns about judicial independence, accountability, and the rule of law.

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PACE Condemns Turkey's Media Crackdown"A truly dark day for media freedom."Council of Europe parliamentary monitors have...
10/16/2026

PACE Condemns Turkey's Media Crackdown

"A truly dark day for media freedom."

Council of Europe parliamentary monitors have strongly criticized Turkey's takeover of Halk TV, following a police raid, the suspension of live broadcasts, and the appointment of a state administrator.

PACE co-rapporteurs Lord David Blencathra and Yves Cruchten warned that the takeover, alongside recent arrests and house arrests of journalists, reflects an alarming pattern of pressure on independent media.

They called on Turkey to uphold its obligations under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects freedom of expression. Press freedom is a fundamental right. Journalists must be able to report independently without intimidation or arbitrary interference.

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25 More Detained Over Alleged Hizmet Movement LinksTurkish police detained 25 people in two separate operations in Istan...
10/16/2026

25 More Detained Over Alleged Hizmet Movement Links

Turkish police detained 25 people in two separate operations in Istanbul on October 16 over alleged connections to the Hizmet Movement.

In the first operation, 19 individuals, including a public employee, were detained in an investigation involving past recruitment processes for judicial and prison positions.

In a separate operation, six others were detained, including individuals accused of providing accommodation and financial assistance to people with outstanding prison sentences.

The continued detentions raise concerns about due process, freedom of association, and the presumption of innocence.

Criminal responsibility must be established through concrete, individualized evidence, not simply alleged affiliations or associations.

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156 Municipalities Affected Since Turkey's 2024 ElectionsA new study by opposition lawmaker Ibrahim Arslan finds that 15...
10/15/2026

156 Municipalities Affected Since Turkey's 2024 Elections

A new study by opposition lawmaker Ibrahim Arslan finds that 156 municipalities have experienced political or administrative interventions since Turkey's March 2024 local elections.

The analysis identifies 106 mayors who switched to the ruling AKP, 13 government-appointed trustees, and 11 municipalities where arrests and council changes shifted political control.

Arslan estimates that these developments brought 130 additional municipalities under AKP control. He also alleges that political pressure and judicial action contributed to some of these changes.

The findings raise serious questions about democratic representation, political accountability, and respect for voters' choices. Election results must be respected, and changes to elected local leadership must follow transparent, lawful procedures.

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ECtHR Finds Rights Violations in 26 Detention CasesThe European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Turkey violated the...
10/15/2026

ECtHR Finds Rights Violations in 26 Detention Cases

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Turkey violated the rights of 26 individuals detained following the 2016 coup attempt.

In Ocak and Others v. Turkey, the Court found that authorities failed to provide sufficient justification for ordering and extending pretrial detention, violating Article 5 § 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Each applicant was awarded EUR 1,500 in damages and costs.

The ruling reinforces a fundamental principle: detention must be justified by concrete, individualized evidence, not generalized accusations or routine judicial decisions.

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32 Detained in New Hizmet Movement RaidsTurkish authorities have detained 32 people across several provinces in three in...
10/15/2026

32 Detained in New Hizmet Movement Raids

Turkish authorities have detained 32 people across several provinces in three investigations targeting 34 individuals over alleged links to the Hizmet Movement.

The operations, led by prosecutors in Eskisehir and Izmir, involved allegations based on financial transactions, digital records, ByLock messages, and accounts at the now-closed Bank Asya.

In one investigation, prosecutors examined payments involving a US-based company connected to food exports. In others, authorities cited digital records and communications as evidence of alleged organizational ties.

These detentions raise renewed concerns about due process, freedom of association, and the standards of evidence used in terrorism-related prosecutions.

In its landmark 2023 YalCinkaya v. Turkey judgment, the European Court of Human Rights found violations of the rights to a fair trial, freedom of association, and protection against punishment without law in a prosecution involving similar evidence.

The principle remains fundamental: lawful financial transactions, digital communications, and peaceful associations must not substitute for individualized proof of criminal wrongdoing. Nearly a decade after the 2016 coup attempt, prosecutions involving alleged Hizmet Movement connections continue to raise serious questions about legal safeguards and individual criminal responsibility.

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Turkish Court Rejects Kavala's Release Despite Binding ECtHR RulingAn Istanbul court has rejected Osman Kavala's request...
10/14/2026

Turkish Court Rejects Kavala's Release Despite Binding ECtHR Ruling

An Istanbul court has rejected Osman Kavala's requests for release and retrial, directly contradicting a binding judgment from the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

On October 13, the Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court refused to reopen his case and ordered him to continue serving his aggravated life sentence.

The decision comes despite the ECtHR's August 25 Grand Chamber judgment, which ordered Turkey to release Kavala and eliminate the consequences of his conviction, declaring it legally "null and void" under the European Convention on Human Rights.

Kavala, a prominent civil society figure, has been imprisoned since October 2017. The European Court found that his prosecution involved serious fair-trial violations and was intended to punish and silence him for his civil society activities.

The latest rejection also coincides with an October 14 deadline for Turkey to report to the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers on measures taken or planned to secure his release.

This case raises fundamental questions about judicial independence, accountability, and Turkey's commitment to its international legal obligations. ECtHR judgments are binding, not optional. Nearly nine years of imprisonment despite repeated European Court rulings underscores the urgent need for their effective implementation.

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Turkey Presses Greece to Extradite Hizmet Movement MembersTurkey is renewing pressure on Greece to extradite individuals...
10/14/2026

Turkey Presses Greece to Extradite Hizmet Movement Members

Turkey is renewing pressure on Greece to extradite individuals accused of links to the Hizmet Movement, raising concerns about transnational repression, asylum protections, and the risk of politically motivated prosecution.

During an October 8 visit to Athens, Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci called for the return of alleged Hizmet Movement members, accusing them of misusing refugee protections. He also sought faster extradition proceedings involving 60 individuals, although not all were identified as having Hizmet-related ties.

Greek officials rejected claims that Turkish asylum seekers constitute an organized criminal network. Sources familiar with extradition proceedings also indicated that no recent formal requests involving Hizmet-related political prosecutions had been identified.

The distinction matters. Seeking asylum is not a crime, and allegations of political or religious association cannot substitute for individualized evidence of criminal conduct.

Extradition decisions must follow independent judicial review and respect international obligations protecting individuals from political persecution, unfair trials, and other human rights violations.

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Trustee Appointed to Halk TV After Police RaidTurkish authorities raided the Istanbul headquarters of Halk TV, one of th...
10/14/2026

Trustee Appointed to Halk TV After Police Raid

Turkish authorities raided the Istanbul headquarters of Halk TV, one of the country's major opposition-aligned broadcasters, and appointed a trustee to oversee the channel. Its live broadcasts were temporarily halted during the operation.

Prosecutors say the investigation concerns Halk TV chairman Cafer Mahiroglu and allegations of bid rigging, bribery, and money laundering. Detention warrants were issued for 17 people, with 11 taken into custody. Mahiroglu denies wrongdoing and has described the case as politically motivated.

The move has drawn criticism from press freedom groups, which warn that placing a news organization under state-appointed management threatens editorial independence and the public's access to independent information. Halk TV has extensively covered cases involving imprisoned Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and other opposition figures.

Financial crimes should be investigated through due process. But the takeover of a major broadcaster demands particular scrutiny because of its consequences for press freedom, editorial independence, and media pluralism.

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Two Journalists Detained Over Fund-Scandal PostsPolice in Turkey detained Sozcu journalist Mustafa Balci and Bizim TV ed...
10/09/2026

Two Journalists Detained Over Fund-Scandal Posts

Police in Turkey detained Sozcu journalist Mustafa Balci and Bizim TV editor-in-chief Saban Sevinc over an image shared on X concerning the country's widening investment-fund investigation. They face accusations of "publicly disseminating misleading information."

The investigation began amid allegations of widespread market manipulation. The disputed image reportedly suggested a connection between an AKP official and one of the main suspects in the fund probe.

The pressure extends beyond the two detentions. Trade Minister Omer Bolat has also filed complaints against journalists Ismail Saymaz and Murat Agirel over reporting that raised questions about his connection to the controversy. Bolat denies the allegations.

Whatever the merits of disputed reporting, criminal detention should be an exceptional response to journalistic activity. The use of Turkey's disinformation provision in coverage of a major financial and political controversy raises serious concerns about press freedom, proportionality, and the ability of journalists to scrutinize matters of public interest.

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