TURKEY: Medical Association head imprisoned for allegations military used chemical weapons against the Kurds

[Tilly lavenas]

Dear Friends

Please send this letter or in your own words on behalf of Prof Şebnem Korur Fincancı. The head of the Turkish Medical Association has been held in pre-trial detention since October on charges of ‘making propaganda for a terrorist organization’. She called for an independent investigation into allegations that Turkish armed forces used chemical weapons in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region. Over the last seven years, the Turkish Medical Associations has also been targeted in multiple criminal investigations under Türkiye’s overly broad anti-terrorism laws and their prominent members subjected to detention and prosecutions. Thanks! Tilly & Guy

Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor 
Mr Şaban Yilmaz
Çağlayan Meydanı Şişli Merkez Mah.  
Abide-i Hürriyet Cad. No: 223 Şişli

İstanbul, Turkey
Email: istan...@adalet.gov.tr

 
Dear Chief Public Prosecutor,
 
I am deeply concerned about the ongoing unjust pre-trial detention of Prof Şebnem Korur Fincancı.
 
Her criminal prosecution for calling for an independent investigation into allegations of banned weapons use amounts to a misuse of the criminal justice system to silence a human rights defender. It's also in contravention of Türkiye’s duty to respect, protect and fulfil human rights.
 
I urge you to request her immediate and unconditional release.
 
Sincerely
 
Please send a copy to the ambassador in your country:
HE Mr Ümit Yalçın

Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye
43 Belgrave Square
London SW1X 8PA
embassy...@mfa.gov.tr

london.emb.mfa.gov.tr

HE Mr. Hasan Murat Mercan
Embassy of the Republic of Turkey
2525 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20008
embassy.wa...@mfa.gov.tr

For more information about Amnesty’s Urgent Action: 92/22: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur44/6317/2022/en/