Amnesty International 06-Turkey Group welcomes You to: A thematic reunion focusing on Turkey "WHERE IS TURKEY GOING?"

Host: Amnesty International Stockholm, 06-Turkey Group
Date: Saturday, 12 August, from 14.00 to 18.00
Address: Amnesty International, Alsnögatan 11, Stockholm

Background: After the failed coup d’état, the situation in Turkey has deteriorated. Independent media has been silenced, about 50 000 people have been detained. Hundreds of associations have been forced to close down. Tens of thousands of lawyers, doctors, policemen, teachers and academics have been labeled as “terrorists” and have lost their jobs. 

On 5 July, 10 human rights defenders were arrested. The arrest occurred a month after the Chair of Amnesty International Turkey, Taner Kiliç, was arrested and prosecuted on trumped up charges. On 18 July, six of the arrested were remanded in custody, among them were Idil Eser, Director of Amnesty International Turkey, as well as Swedish It-expert Ali Gharavi and German national Peter Steudtner. 

At the same time, the armed conflict between the PKK and the Turkish security forces in Turkish Kurdistan is ongoing. According to one estimate, at least half a million people have been forced to leave Kurdish areas, because of long curfews, violence, destruction and forced displacement. 

The reports that the land and churches of Assyrians and Syriacs are being confiscated is shocking as well. 
Many of us feel that democracy is being infringed in Turkey. To work for freedom, we strongly believe in creating networks with other organisations who share our views on democracy and human rights. Friendly discussions and criticism play a key role in the country’s development towards those goals. It opens up for dialogue and communication. For that reason, we welcome interested organisations and politicians to participate in this project day.

Program: THE SITUATION IN TURKEY 

Ylle Stigzelius Akermo, Amnesty Sweden, Campaign Manager

The detention of directors of Amnesty Turkey

Zarathustra Acat, Amnesty Sweden, Stockholm, v. chairman
The situation in the Turkey (turkish)

Keya Izol, Chair of The National Kurdish Association

The situation in the Kurdish cities of Cizre, Nusaybin and Sur after long standing curfews 

Feyyaz Kerimo, Chair of the Solidarity Association

Confiscation of Assyrian and Syriac land and churches 

Elisabeth Olin, PEN Sweden

Freedom of speech in Turkey

MUSIC/FOOD

Gursel Dayan, performer and musician 

CONVERSATION WITH POLITICIANS 

Serkan Köse, MP of the The Social Democrats 

Margareta Cederfelt, MP of the Moderate Party
Stefan Nilsson, MP of the Greens