International Human Rights Advisors are signatories to the Joint Civil Society Statement on Human Rights Violations in Turkish Prisons 

As signatories to the Joint Civil Society Statement, International Human Rights Advisors join leading human rights organisations across Europe in expressing grave concern over the severe overcrowding in Turkish prisons and the systemic human rights violations resulting from these conditions.

The statement highlights that, according to official statistics, the number of inmates in Turkish prisons has surged to over 403,000, far exceeding capacity and leading to inhumane conditions that violate the European Convention on Human Rights. Despite rulings from the European Court of Human Rights and the UN Human Rights Committee, Turkish authorities continue to enforce discriminatory parole policies that exclude political prisoners, such as journalists, lawyers, judges, artists, and human rights defenders, imprisoned under overly broad anti-terrorism laws (Article 314 of the Turkish Penal Code).

International Human Rights Advisors support the call for urgent, non-discriminatory reforms and immediate release of vulnerable prisoners, including the elderly, sick, disabled, and those with young children. We emphasise that any legislative response to prison overcrowding must comply with international human rights obligations and the principle of equality before the law.

International Human Rights Advisors remains committed to advocating for the protection of fundamental rights and the rule of law, and to standing in solidarity with those unjustly detained for exercising their freedoms.