Where is the world’s biggest jail for journalists?
Over 200 journalists have been jailed in Turkey, most in pretrial detention, on trumped-up charges of terror, coup-plotting or espionage, while some 50,000 people including judges, prosecutors, teachers, doctors and union workers have been arrested in the last eight months alone. The government has purged approximately 140,000 public employees, 7,317 were academics and 4,317 were judges and prosecutors without any effective administrative investigation or judicial enquiry.
In addition to jailing thousands of judges and prosecutors, Turkey has also imprisoned hundreds of human rights defenders and lawyers, making it extremely difficult for detainees to access a lawyer in violation of a due process and fair trial protections under the Turkish Code on Criminal Procedures. The country used to be the bride of European Union, and still holds strong integration with influential countries of the Union through the refugee’s pact between Turkey and Europe.
But Turkey is not fully-admitted into the EU, for salient reasons of a violation of rights and liberties by the state, against the article of fundamental rights as contained in the guidelines of the International Convention on Human Rights ICHM, and global practice of social justice.
Turkey is not a country to undermine economically, geographically and politically, especially before the coming of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and even up to 2012 after Erdogan had become Prime minister, the state of Turkey enjoyed all forms of freedom. Its geographical influence is its strategic location in the Middle East and the pact with European Union, and as one of the most prominent and rich in some oil regions of the country as well as its cognate transactions in textile, aviation and heavy industrialization; it became clear that Turkey is relevant to the global economy. However, the 2013 probe of the presidency involving Erdogan commenced what can be described as his loggerheads with prominent Turks like Fethullah Gülen, though he still enjoyed support to win the 2014 elections.
In a new report unveiled as part of continuing series that focus on human rights violations and arbitrariness in the application of the law in Turkey, Stockholm Center for Freedom (SCF) concluded that the rule of law no longer exists in Turkey.
The details outlining the collapse of due process also serve as an indictment in a modern parliamentary democracy with respect for its citizens and the gains made over the course of a century’s struggle for civil and political rights.
Also Over 1000 lawyers have been detained and 411 have been arrested during the last eight months. The accusations rose against these lawyers range from membership in certain social groups and associations to alleged complicity in the crimes with which their clients are charged.
But the peak of human rights violation in Turkey was shortly before and after the July 2016 ‘coup’ which actually was used as a tool of blackmail by Erdogan to clamp down on opposition, the media, civil society groups and human rights crusaders. According to the former editor-in-chief of Turkey’s Cumhuriyet newspaper Can Dundar who was charged with espionage and also survived an assassination attempt in May 2016, the editor fled his country and now lives in exile in Germany, he said the country has become the biggest prison yard for journalists.
Dündar also expressed regret that European leaders are not more strongly denouncing the media crackdown, and said this is likely because the EU needs Turkish help with the refugee crisis. “I am totally and deeply disappointed by the attitude of Europe because of the refugee deal. The deal was that Turkey promised to keep the refugees on Turkish soil and not send them to Europe, and in return I’m afraid Turkey bought Europe’s silence.”
Uket wrote in from Abuja.
The Katsina State’s ‘Girl-Child Holiday Camp’ is a huge success, but when all is said and done the success depends on adequate budgetary provision and funding of the department of the Girl-Child Education and Child Development. While we regret the 2016 edition of the event did not take place due to late preparation and lack of funds occasioned by the dwindling receipt from the federation account, its our ardent hope and desire that the programme will hold in 2017 God willing. The ‘Girl-Child Holiday Camp’ is among the most promising things, so to speak. As one of the concerned parents with passionate interest in the programme, I think it doesn’t have to be regime-specific, but should be sustained because of the immense benefits derivable and its costeffectiveness. It avails children from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds the opportunity to have carrier choice and guidance.
Hamisu Ali Daura, Mashi, Katsina