Turkey: Open letter calls for inclusive and comprehensive democratic reform and amnesty process

The following is an open letter with 50+ signatures, including Statewatch, calling for an inclusive and comprehensive democratic reform and amnesty process needed in Türkiye. It was sent to Turkish authorities earlier this month.

To:

Mr. Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN, The President of the Republic of Türkiye

Mr. Numan KURTULMUŞ, The Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye

Mr. Akın GÜRLEK, Minister of Justice

Dear Mr. President, Dear Mr. Kurtulmuş, Dear Mr. Gürlek,

As members of parliaments, human rights experts, academics, civil society representatives and public figures across Europe, we, the undersigned, express our deep concern regarding the persistent human rights violations and democratic backsliding in Türkiye, and we call for a comprehensive and inclusive approach to the recently emerging dialogue and peace initiatives in the country.

We welcome any step taken towards peace, de-escalation and political dialogue. The renewed discussions on resolving the longstanding questions with the Kurdish political movement, as well as ending armed conflict through democratic means, are important and necessary. Türkiye’s stability and prosperity are closely linked to its ability to establish a just and inclusive framework in which all groups (regardless of ethnicity, political orientation or religious identity) can participate freely and without fear.

However, lasting peace cannot be achieved through selective or politically motivated measures. Reports in Türkiye suggest that the government may introduce an amnesty limited to certain groups, yet such a selective approach risk deepening divisions, undermining trust, and turning a historic opportunity into a narrow political gesture. For a genuine democratic renewal, it is first necessary to implement the European Court of Human Rights’ judgments in the cases of Osman Kavala, Selahaddin Demirtaş, and Yüksel Yalçınkaya in domestic law, and to undertake reforms based on universal human rights principles, the rule of law, the separation of powers, and an independent judiciary.

According to judgments of the ECtHR and reports by UN mechanisms, the groups most affected by widespread and systemic violations in Türkiye are the Kurdish political movement and individuals alleged to be affiliated with the Gülen movement. Hundreds of Kurdish politicians, elected mayors, journalists and activists have been arbitrarily detained or replaced by trustees.

At the same time, more than 100,000 public servants have been dismissed by decree-laws without due process; thousands of associations, foundations and educational institutions have been shut down; and millions of people have been stigmatised, criminalised and socially excluded based on their supposed links to the Gülen movement.

In such a context, a credible amnesty process must be inclusive and must cover all political prisoners and detainees — regardless of the group to which they are believed to belong. Excluding certain communities from the scope of reforms would be inconsistent with democratic norms, incompatible with international human rights obligations and counterproductive for long-term peace and social cohesion.

We therefore call on the Turkish authorities to:

• Ensure that any amnesty or normalisation initiative is comprehensive, inclusive and non-discriminatory, covering all political prisoners without exception.
• End the misuse of counter-terrorism legislation against peaceful dissent, civic engagement and basic associative activities.
• Fully implement binding judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, including Osman Kavala, Selahaddin Demirtaş and Yüksel Yalçınkaya.
• Restore the rule of law by re-establishing judicial independence and guaranteeing effective remedies against arbitrary measures.
• Promote an open, transparent and nationwide dialogue process that includes all communities, political actors and civil society groups affected by rights violations.

The European Union, the Council of Europe, and Europe’s national parliaments have a responsibility to encourage and support an inclusive peace agenda grounded in human rights and democratic values. A stable and democratic Türkiye is essential both for its own citizens and for regional security and cooperation.

We the undersigned reaffirm our commitment to supporting a peaceful, democratic and rights-based future for Türkiye. We call on the Turkish government to seize this moment to pursue a genuinely transformative and inclusive path — one that embraces all individuals and communities who have suffered under years of repression and discrimination. True reconciliation can only be built upon justice, equality and respect for human dignity for all.

Signatories

1. Nathalie LOISEAU, Member of the European Parliament – Chair of Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield, France
2. Brando Benifei, Member of the European Parliament, Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Italy
3. Kathleen Van Brempt, Member of the European Parliament, Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Belgium
4. Lucia YAR, Member of the European Parliament, Renew Europe Group, Slovakia
5. Reinier VAN LANSCHOT, Member of the European Parliament, Group of the Greens, Netherlands
6. Anna STROLENBERG, Member of the European Parliament, Group of the Greens, Netherlands
7. Leoluca ORLANDO, Member of the European Parliament, Group of the Greens, Italy
8. Hanna GEDIN, Member of the European Parliament – The Left, Sweden
9. Jonas SJÖSTEDT, Member of the European Parliament – The Left, Sweden
10. Verena Mertens, Member of the European Parliament, European People’s Party, Germany
11. Emmanuel Fernandes, PACE member, UEL, France
12. Garret AHEARN, PACE member, EPP/CD, Ireland
13. James MacClear, PACE member, ALDE, UK
14. Prof. dr. Javier COUSO SALAS, Professor of Law, Utrecht University, The Netherlands and UDP, Chile
15. Prof. Stuart Russell, Human Rights Lawyer, Law Professor and Administrative Judge (ret.) Bordeaux, France
16. Prof. Nadia BERNAZ, Professor of Law, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
17. Prof. Ides NICAISE, Professor Emeritus, University of Leuven, Belgium
18. Angelita Baeyens, Human Rights Lawyer and VP of International Advocacy & Litigation at the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center
19. Walter VAN STEENBRUGGE, Criminal and Sports Law Lawyer and Long-Standing Human Rights Defender, Belgium
20. Lucy HALL, Lecturer, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
21. Benjamin NANGLE, Researcher on the Far Right, University of Leuven, Belgium
22. André Pereira Matos, Assistant Professor of European Studies, Coordinator of the BA in European Studies, Portugal
23. Johan Heymans, Human Rights Lawyer, Belgium
24. Ben Keith, Barrister, 5 St Andrew’s Hill Chamber, United Kingdom
25. Prof. Dr. Johan Vande Lanotte, Former Deputy Prime Minister in Belgium, Professor at the University of Ghent, Belgium
26. Prof. Em. Dr. Dr. Paul Weller, retired Religious Studies scholar, United Kingdom and Germany
27. Colin Stevens, Publisher / Editor in Chief at Eureporter
28. Dr. Salim Çevik, Visiting Fellow – Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik
29. Christiane SEHL, Politician in the Green Party, Human Rights Activist, Luxembourg
30. Maria Teresa Calveras Barniol, Member of Assemblea Nacional Catalana, Spain
31. Prof Gonzalo Boye, Lawyer, Profesor of Procedure Law, UK
32. Prof Dr Antonio Stango, President of the Italian Federation for Human Rights, Italy
33. Rhys Davies, Barrister, Temple Garden Chambers, an international criminal law and international human rights law expert, UK
34. Statewatch, London-based NGO, UK
35. Prof Neve Gordon, Professor of International Law, School of Law Queen Mary University of London, UK
36. James Sandbach, Barrister, Chair Liberal Democrats Lawyers Association, UK
37. Nailah Sharif, Retired Detective Constable (Metropolitan Police Service), Executive Member (Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine), UK
38. Keith Melton, Councillor Trent Ward, Newark and Sherwood District Council, Vice Chair Green Liberal Democrats, UK
39. Michael Polak, UK barrister, Church Court Chambers, UK
40. Prof Jenny Pearce, Visiting Professor, International Inequalities Institute, LSE, UK
41. Lise Christoffersen, Former member of The Norwegian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Norway
42. Kristjan Thor Sigurdsson – Anthropologist, University of Iceland, Iceland
43. Gunnar Stålseth, Theologian, Church Leader, Norway
44. Herborg Finnset, Priest and bishop in the Church of Norway, Norway
45. Dr. Willy Mutunga, Former Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya (2011–2016), Kenya
46. Habte Hagos, Chairperson of Eritrea Focus, human rights advocate for democratic governance and justice in the Horn of Africa, London, United Kingdom
47. Piya Muqit, UK Barrister-Human Rights Barrister, United Kingdom
48. Silvia Rotaru, Green Party Councillor Candidate (Barking and Dagenham) UK
49. Anaïs Lefort, Lawyer at the Seine-Saint-Denis Bar, specializing in immigration and asylum law, France
50. Aua Jau, Human Rights Advocate and Legal Researcher, Guinea-Bissau – UK
51. Gianluca Costantini, Artist, activist, and lecturer at the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna – Italy
52. Aryna Valasach, Volunteer Service of the Viasna Human Rights Centre, Belarus
53. Aseem Trivedi – Indian political cartoonist and Human rights activist- UK
54. Shengchun Sophie Luo, Founder and Director Alliance for Citizens Rights- UK