FAIR Contribution to the UN Human Rights Committee ICCPR Review

In its international commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights [ICCPR], Turkey has fallen short of providing detailed and reliable data and statistics on critical human rights issues. Despite repeated calls for transparency and accountability, the Turkish government has consistently failed to offer comprehensive data and statistics as well their interpretation of legally binding documents regarding fundamental rights, particularly in areas such as freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, arbitrary detention, police brutality, torture and ill-treatment, violence against women, and minority rights. This lack of data not only undermines Turkey’s commitments under the ICCPR but also severely impedes the ability of international bodies and civil society to assess the true extent of human rights violations in the country.

In the field of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, Turkey’s restrictive laws and government practices have led to widespread censorship and suppression of dissent. However, reliable data on the number of individuals prosecuted or convicted for exercising these rights is often unavailable. The authorities either fail to release detailed reports or provide vague, incomplete information, making it difficult to track the scope of these violations. Similarly, in cases of arbitrary detention -particularly following the 2016 attempted coup- there is little transparency regarding the number of people detained without due process, with the government often labelling such cases as matters of national security, further obscuring the statistics.

Regarding police brutality and torture and ill-treatment, although Turkey is obligated to uphold international standards, data on the prevalence of these abuses is sparse. Allegations of police violence during peaceful protests and incidents of torture in detention centres are frequent, yet official data documenting these claims is either not published or insufficiently detailed to allow for meaningful analysis. The absence of reliable statistics in these areas severely hinders accountability and fosters an environment where abuses can occur with impunity.

Furthermore, Turkey does not provide adequate data on violence against women and minority rights. While some data on gender-based violence is available, it is often incomplete or does not reflect the full extent of the problem, particularly with regard to domestic violence and femicides. As for minority rights, the Turkish government consistently fails to publish detailed statistics on the treatment of ethnic and religious minorities, including Kurds, Alevis, and refugees, leaving significant gaps in understanding the systemic discrimination faced by these groups. The lack of transparency in these areas highlights Turkey’s failure to meet its international obligations and the urgent need for more robust data collection and reporting practices.

Under these conditions, FAIR requests that the UN Human Rights Committee urge Turkey to provide accurate and comprehensive data in compliance with its obligations under the Covenant, particularly regarding the issues outlined below. This will enable the Committee to better understand and evaluate Turkey’s human rights situation and facilitate the drafting of informed concluding observations on Turkey’s reports.

For the full text of the contribution: FAIR – ICCPR Submission