On July 5th, we found out that all the participants of digital security training in Turkey, organized by Hivos, were taken into custody, with a prohibition of visit. Those arrested include a trainer from Germany and another from Sweden, Director of the Amnesty International Turkey and individual activists from various human rights organizations. 

Persons referred to as "the 10s of Istanbul" remain incarcerated in Istanbul in cells for five; they are accused of membership in an armed terrorist organization and they will be held under custody for seven days pending the decision of the judiciary on whether or not they will be formally brought before a court.  This period has been extended by seven days for a second time. 

Accusations of involvement in the coup 

Hivos believes that this arrest is a move against participants' delivering a digital security training and their determination to defend human rights in Turkey and it is deeply concerned.   

Authorities in Turkey expressing their suspicion about these "10 persons" having the same motivation as last year's failed coup attempt does not forebode well. President Erdogan's government stated that the activists and the two trainers had gathered with the intention of "continuing the coup d’état". This accusation is a fool's errand. However, the authorities in Turkey have not yet filed an official criminal complaint concerning this accusation. 

In the meantime, trainers and human rights defenders could meet with their lawyers, but the Swedish and German consulates have were not yet allowed  to speak with the trainers. 

Call for action 

During the past week, Hivos and Amnesty International called on the G20 leaders to address the issue. We have also invited the Dutch government and the European Commission to urge an immediate and unconditional release of the ten persons under custody. 

Commissioner Timmermans, representing the European Commission, did nothing more than referring to the general relations between Turkey and the EU. The Dutch government has not yet publicly made clear its position on the issue.  Hivos finds this situation utterly incomprehensible. 

Today in particular, against a background where the means of expressing opinions of opposition have been continuously constrained, we believe that a support to be extended for freedom of expression in the public space has become a matter of urgency. For this reason, Hivos calls on everybody to loudly raise their voice for the release of the "10s of İstanbul". 

The repression and intimidation used by the Turkish government, which has unfairly arrested its citizens merely for exercising their democratic rights, is unacceptable.  

Tell Turkey to release the people in custody 

We call upon all those who are appalled like us in the face of the arbitrary arrest of human rights defenders and Hivos trainers to demand an immediate and unconditional release of these persons. Please send a message using the page created by Amnesty International and make your voice heard by the Turkish authorities. 

Names of those arrested 

The names of the persons arrested: Peter Steudtner and Ali Gharavi (trainers); İdil Eser, Director of Amnesty International Turkey; Seven human rights defenders: İlknur Üstün (Women's Coalition), Günal Kurşun (Human Rights Agenda Association), Nalan Erkem (Citizens' Assembly), Nejat Taştan (Association for Monitoring Equal Rights ), Özlem Dalkıran (Citizens' Assembly), Şeyhmuz Özbekli (lawyer) and Veli Acu (Human Rights Agenda Association).