Years-Long Campaign of Political Persecution Ends with Harsh Sentences Against Three in Turkey
“These verdicts are the result of a years-long campaign of political persecution that Erdogan’s government has waged against his perceived enemies. From the very beginning, officials have made it… More
Life Prison Sentence for Cultural Rights Activist Osman Kavala is a “Dark Moment” for Human Rights and Democracy in Turkey
“Today is a dark moment for Turkey. The life sentence handed down to Osman Kavala is a devastating and unjust blow, not only to him and his family, but… More
Enver Aysever
A sociologist and former columnist for the independent newspaper Cumhuriyet, Aysever was arrested in March 2021 for "provoking the public to hatred and hostility” by tweeting a political cartoon… More
Şebnem Korur Fincancı
Fincancı, president of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey, was arrested after standing in solidarity with and serving as a “guest editor” for Özgür Gündem, a pro-Kurdish newspaper that… More
Yavuz Ekinci
Yavuz Ekinci is an online commentator and award-winning literary writer whose work focuses on the situation of the Kurdish minority in Turkey. His tweets in support for the Kurdish… More
Mustafa Sönmez
Economist and columnist Mustafa Sönmez was arrested in April 2019 and charged with "insulting the president" regarding tweets he posted calling President Erdoğan “the chief of a thief gang”… More
Nurcan Kaya
A columnist, lawyer, and human rights defender, Kaya’s work focuses on women’s rights, education, and peaceful protests. In September 2021, she was convicted on propaganda charges based on a… More
Oktay Candemir
Candemir is a freelance journalist who writes pro-Kurdish opinion columns for news website Nupel. He has been prosecuted 25 times in the last two years on a range of… More
Ruhi Karadağ
Ruhi Karadağ is a journalist turned writer/TV producer who was targeted for his book Yarali Yonca. Karadağ was arrested at the airport on March 24, 2021, after being exiled… More
Gökhan Yavuzel
Yavuzel is a Kurdish author, columnist, and political commentator living in exile in the UK. In July 2021, he appeared on a leaked hit-list of Turkish dissidents living abroad,… More
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The latest in #bookban news: a website to "rate" kids' books that appears objective but is another tool of the banning advocates. Shows the increasing organization & coordination of the whole ban movement. H/t @veronikellymars https://bookriot.com/moms-for-liberty-booklooks/
How do the arts lead to change? How do you maintain a social justice perspective in the arts? What does it mean to be an artivist? The Literary Action Coalition and @BronxArtsorg will address these questions and more during our May 18th panel discussion. https://bit.ly/38jwfHG
