H U M A N R I G H T S W A T C H

TURKEY’S HUMAN RIGHTS ROLLBACK Recommendations for Reform

Turkey’s Human Rights Rollback Recommendations for Reform

Copyright © 2014 Human Rights Watch All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America ISBN: 978-1-62313-1968 Cover design by Rafael Jimenez

Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world. We stand with victims and activists to prevent discrimination, to uphold political freedom, to protect people from inhumane conduct in wartime, and to bring offenders to justice. We investigate and expose human rights violations and hold abusers accountable. We challenge governments and those who hold power to end abusive practices and respect international human rights law. We enlist the public and the international community to support the cause of human rights for all. Human Rights Watch is an international organization with staff in more than 40 countries, and offices in Amsterdam, Beirut, Berlin, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Goma, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Nairobi, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo, Toronto, Tunis, Washington DC, and Zurich. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.hrw.org

SEPTEMBER 2014

ISBN: 978-1-62313-1968

Turkey’s Human Rights Rollback Recommendations for Reform Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 Human Rights and the Peace Process with the PKK ....................................................................3 The Rule of Law.........................................................................................................................3 Impunity ...................................................................................................................................4 Restrictions on Freedom of Expression and Assembly ............................................................... 5 What Turkey Should Do to Strengthen Respect for Human Rights ............................................... 5 Regional Context and International Implications ....................................................................... 7

Recommendations ........................................................................................................... 9 To the Government of Turkey.................................................................................................... 9 End Constitutional Restrictions on Human Rights............................................................... 9 In Order to Support the Kurdish Peace Process, Protect Rights and Uphold the Rights of All Minority Groups ................................................................................................................ 9 Protect Freedom of Expression, Assembly, and Association .............................................. 10 Reform the Criminal Justice System .................................................................................. 10 End Impunity for Violence against Women ........................................................................ 11 Strengthen Official Human Rights Bodies in Turkey, Implement a Human Rights Action Plan .. 11 Combat Impunity of Public Officials and the Security Forces for Human Rights Abuses ...... 12 To the European Union and United States ............................................................................... 12

I. Improving Rights to Secure the Kurdish Peace Process ............................................... 13 Minority Rights ....................................................................................................................... 13 Ending Misuse of Anti-Terrorism Laws ..................................................................................... 14

II. Reforming the Criminal Justice System ....................................................................... 18 III. Tackling Impunit