Council of Europe warns against hate speech by senior state officials in Turkey


Date posted: October 17, 2016

The human rights body of the Council of Europe, the Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), issued a report on Wednesday raising concerns about the increasing use of hate speech, even by senior state officials, calling it “worrying.”

The report said that “hate speech is on the rise, and most of it goes unpunished. Its increasing use by the senior state representatives is particularly worrying.”

Releasing a statement on the report, ECRI chairman Christian Ahlund said that “although the report was drafted before the coup attempt in July 2016, it contains recommendations to the Turkish authorities which are fully relevant today.”

Although hate speech in Turkey has long targeted non-Muslims and ethnic and religious minorities, in the wake of a failed coup attempt on July 15 it has been primarily directed at sympathizers of the Gülen movement, a social-religious civic society group inspired by the teachings of Islamic cleric Fethullah Gülen. While President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called the Gülen sympathizers “viruses,” Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım labeled them microbes. The movement is the main target of a massive purge and witch-hunt in Turkey.

The ECRI, which called refugees, Kurds and Roma as well as LGBT persons vulnerable groups in Turkey, aims to analyze problems of racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and intolerance as well as discrimination due to race, national/ethnic origin, color, citizenship, religion or language.

However the report, which does not cover the post-coup era, welcomed the establishment of an Ombudsman in 2013 and the Human Rights and Equality Authority in 2016. Comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation, a national strategy for Roma and an “open-door” policy for Syrian refugees, including the issuance of work permits, are also cited as positive steps.

According to the report, at least 400,000 refugee children do not have access to school, and by the end of 2015 only 7,400 refugees had received work permits.

The body suggested that Turkey establish a body that is fully independent of the police, other security forces and prosecutors for the investigation of alleged cases of police misconduct including ill treatment.

Following the coup attempt, Amnesty International issued a report citing credible evidence of torture in Turkish prisons.

Source: Turkey Purge , October 4, 2016


Related News

Hate Speech and Beyond: Targeting the Gülen Movement in Turkey

If the element of hatred is detectable at first sight, the European Court of Human Rights defines such language as abuse of freedom of expression. In this regard, some of the language used by Prime Minister Erdoğan to describe the Gülen movement – i.e. “perverts”, “hashashins”, “traitors”, “spies”, “worse than Shiites”, “leeches” and “a terrorist organization” – do indeed constitute prima facie hate speech.

Kimse Yok Mu and Tuna Foundation lifting up Romanian orphans’ spirit

Kimse Yok Mu Foundation in cooperation with the local Tuna Foundation gave away donations of clothing and food to the children of an orphanage in the Romanian capital Bucharest. The two foundations joined together to reach out to a total of 270 orphans including those with mental disorders.

Kaçmaz family deportation case: Lahore High Court seeks record of Civil Aviation Authority

The Lahore High Court (LHC) sought record of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of planes arrived and departed for Turkey from Allama Iqbal International Airport on 13-14 October, on Tuesday. The record is sought to investigate the forced deportation of Kacmaz family, despite them being under UN protection.

One wounded in armed attack on university preparation course

22 April 2012 / TODAYSZAMAN.COM A private institution that offers weekend and evening courses to assist students in preparing for national exams, was attacked by an unidentified person with a Kalashnikov rifle in the southeastern province of Şırnak on Saturday, leaving a security guard wounded. The attack took place at Şırnak’s FEM Dershanesi around 10 p.m., […]

Erdoğan’s requests to shut down Turkish schools abroad perceived as patronizing

On the latest stop of his world tour to disparage Turkish schools abroad, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan asked Albanians to shut down schools that boast scores of Albanian alumni, accusing the institutions of being part of a terrorist organization.

Kerry: Turkish President’s Insinuation of US Role in Attempted Coup is ‘Harmful to Our Bilateral Relations’

John Kerry: We invite the government of Turkey, as we always do, to present us with any legitimate evidence that withstands scrutiny. And the United States will accept that and look at it and make judgments about it appropriately.”

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Woman miscarries twins after arrest, struggles for her life in prison

The Gülen Movement: Paradigms, Projects and Aspirations

Is it civil disobedience or passive resistance?

Fethullah Gulen’s books draw large interest in Sweden

Turkish paper says journalist expelled for criticizing Erdogan

73-year-old says looking after grandchildren as daughter, son-in-law behind bars

Terrorist investigation against Kimse Yok Mu draws strong reactions

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News