Amnesty International on July 6 condemned [6] the conviction in Türkiye of environmental activist Esra Işık. Amnesty's deputy regional firector for Europe, Esther Major, spoke on the broader impacts of the conviction on the fight to defend the environment:
Today’s decision is a devastating blow for Esra Işık and for those engaged in the long struggle to stage off eviction and protect rural settlements and farmland from an expansion of mining activities. It is also a deeply disappointing outcome for those fighting to end the criminalization of environmental human rights defenders by Turkish authorities.
The activist was convicted of "resisting a public official to prevent them from performing their duty" and "insulting a public official." For the former, she was sentenced to two years and one month in prison. For the latter charge, the court deferred the announcement of the verdict but issued a fine of 44,200 Turkish lira (approximately USD$944).
Işık was detained [7] for 42 days beginning on March 30, following participation in demonstrations against an "urgent" land expropriation [8] decision. The decision was set to impact over 600 parcels in the Akbelen Forest area, by paving the way for expansion of a coal mine.
Işık was released after the 6th Chamber of top administrative court, the Council of State, unanimously suspended [10] the expropriation order. The land was to be controlled by YK Enerji, which operates nearby thermal power plants. However, the court ruled that "urgent expropriation" is for exceptional circumstances, and that energy supply and economic development "do not establish the state of urgency required under Article 27 of the Expropriation Law. [11]"
Despite the criminal proceedings moving forward against Işık, the court’s decision to deny expropriation is a win for the overall Akbelen resistance [12], which has been ongoing since October 2019 through a variety of strategies. The lawyers of the plaintiffs in the case celebrated [10] the decision, explaining why it should be seen as a victory:
The injunctions issued…have once again demonstrated just how justified the struggle in Akbelen was. All measures taken against those defending their living spaces have once again been scrutinized by a judicial decision, and their illegality has been confirmed… The judicial decision obtained is a victory for the Akbelen resistance–the result of the unwavering struggle waged by our clients to protect their air, water, soil, and, in short, their dignified lives alongside nature. We salute those who resist for life. We hope this marks the beginning of an era in our country where rights are safeguarded and life is protected.
Işık’s conviction is part of an ongoing trend of repression of human rights figures in Türkiye. The UN condemned [13]Turkish authorities in April for criminalizing human rights groups and lawyers. Turkish authorities also recently arrested [14] 225 activists and journalists ahead of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit to be held in Ankara on July 7 and 8.
Amnesty International calls for an end to the repression of peaceful protestors. "Authorities in Türkiye must stop misusing the criminal justice system to crack down on dissent and instead protect the right to protest," Major said.
Işık will have the opportunity to appeal both convictions.
From JURIST [15], July 7. Used with permission.
See our last report on the crackdown on civil opposition [16] in Turkey.
