Latest news with #EnesHocaogullari
DW
5 days ago
- Politics
- DW
Turkey arrests youth activist after Council of Europe speech – DW – 08/06/2025
Enes Hocaogullari had spoken at the Council of Europe against police violence and "democratic backsliding" in Turkey. The Strasbourg-based organization called for his immediate release. Turkish police have arrested a youth activist after he criticized President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. His arrest comes amid a crackdown on Erdogan's main political opponents, with more than 500 detained in nine months. Enes Hocaogullari was detained on Tuesday night at Ankara's Esenboga Airport as he arrived from France, his lawyer said. Turkey is one of 46 members of the Council of Europe, an international organization aimed at upholding human rights based in France. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The 23-year-old LGBTQ+ advocate gave a speech in Strasbourg in March criticizing police violence and "democratic backsliding" in Turkey, saying. "The youth has had enough... We are ready to go on the streets to regain our freedoms," he said. Reuters news agency reported, citing a court document, that he was held on charges of "publicly disseminating misleading information" and "inciting hatred and enmity." The Council of Europe's congress of local authorities said on Wednesday called for immediate release. "The Congress has already expressed deep concern about the state of democracy in Turkey and called on the Turkish authorities to stop prosecuting and detaining elected representatives from opposition parties," Congress President Marc Cools said in a statement. "This new attack on a youth delegate for having legitimately exercised the right to express their views in a pluralistic public debate, is scandalous and unacceptable."
Daily Maverick
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Turkey arrests youth activist, drawing European protest
Turkey has arrested an LGBTQ+ youth activist over criticism he made abroad at Europe's main rights body about the repression of opponents by President Tayyip Erdogan's government. Enes Hocaogullari, 23, gave a speech in Strasbourg in March criticising police violence and detentions plus democratic backsliding in Turkey, saying: 'The youth has had enough … We are ready to go on the streets to regain our freedoms.' He was detained on Tuesday night on arrival from France at Ankara's Esenboga Airport pending trial on charges of 'publicly disseminating misleading information' and 'inciting hatred and enmity,' according to a court document seen by Reuters. The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office cited his March remarks about detained opposition mayors, including Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, as the basis for the case. Erdogan's main political opponents have faced an unprecedented crackdown that has seen more than 500 detained in nine months. The president says the arrests tackle corruption. The Council of Europe rights body's congress of local authorities said on Wednesday the charges against Hocaogullari were a reprisal for his words and urged his immediate release. 'The Congress has already expressed deep concern about the state of democracy in Turkey and called on the Turkish authorities to stop prosecuting and detaining elected representatives from opposition parties,' Congress President Marc Cools said in a statement. 'This new attack on a youth delegate for having legitimately exercised the right to express their views in a pluralistic public debate, is scandalous and unacceptable.' The Turkish government did not comment on the case. Ankara has previously rejected Western criticism of its rights record, accusing European institutions of bias and interference. Turkey is a member of the Council of Europe, the continent's leading human rights body.
Al Arabiya
5 days ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Turkey police arrest activist after council of Europe speech
Turkish authorities have detained an activist who chided President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government for 'democratic backsliding' at a Council of Europe body, his lawyer said on Wednesday. Enes Hocaogullari, 23, was detained on Tuesday as he arrived at Ankara airport, his lawyer Mahmut Seren told AFP. 'He's currently in Sincan prison,' on the outskirts of Ankara, added the lawyer who called the action politically motivated. The activist had already been target of an investigation by Turkish authorities after a March speech he made to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities -- a body of the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe. He is a youth delegate at the congress, and his lawyer said he stays abroad half of the year. Hocaogullari -- an advocate of human rights and LGBTQI rights -- condemned 'democratic backsliding' and 'human rights violations' in Turkey at the congress, a few days after the March 19 arrest of Istanbul's opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on graft allegations. He also lashed out at Turkish police for using what he called 'disproportionate brutality' against protesters who took to the streets across the country. Hocaogullari's arrest drew criticism from the Council of Europe. 'The arrest and charges in question, based on words spoken by a Congress youth delegate during a plenary sitting of the Congress, flout the fundamental right to free expression -- a cornerstone of democracy in Europe,' Marc Cools, president of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, said in a statement. Turkish authorities have cracked down on protests since the arrest of Imamoglu -- a key rival to Erdogan. They detained nearly 2,000 protesters including students and journalists, most of whom have since been released.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Turkey arrests activist after Council of Europe speech on rights violations
ANKARA: Turkish police have arrested activist Enes Hocaogullari following his speech at the Council of Europe condemning democratic backsliding in Turkey. The 23-year-old was detained upon arrival at Ankara airport and is currently held in Sincan prison, according to his lawyer Mahmut Seren. Seren described the arrest as politically motivated, linking it to Hocaogullari's criticism of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government. The activist had previously drawn scrutiny after addressing the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in March. As a youth delegate, Hocaogullari accused Turkey of human rights violations and excessive police force against protesters. His remarks came shortly after Istanbul's opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested on corruption charges. The Council of Europe condemned Hocaogullari's detention, calling it a violation of free speech. Marc Cools, president of the Congress, stated that such actions undermine democratic principles in Europe. Turkish authorities have intensified crackdowns on dissent since Imamoglu's arrest, detaining nearly 2,000 protesters. Most detainees, including students and journalists, have since been released. - AFP
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Turkey arrests youth activist, drawing European protest
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox ANKARA - Turkey has arrested an LGBTQ+ youth activist over criticism he made abroad at Europe's main rights body about the repression of opponents by President Tayyip Erdogan's government. Enes Hocaogullari, 23, gave a speech in Strasbourg in March criticising police violence and detentions plus democratic backsliding in Turkey, saying: "The youth has had enough ... We are ready to go on the streets to regain our freedoms." He was detained on Tuesday night on arrival from France at Ankara's Esenboga Airport pending trial on charges of "publicly disseminating misleading information" and "inciting hatred and enmity," according to a court document seen by Reuters. The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office cited his March remarks about detained opposition mayors, including Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, as the basis for the case. Erdogan's main political opponents have faced an unprecedented crackdown that has seen more than 500 detained in nine months. The president says the arrests tackle corruption. The Council of Europe rights body's congress of local authorities said on Wednesday the charges against Hocaogullari were a reprisal for his words and urged his immediate release. "The Congress has already expressed deep concern about the state of democracy in Turkey and called on the Turkish authorities to stop prosecuting and detaining elected representatives from opposition parties," Congress President Marc Cools said in a statement. "This new attack on a youth delegate for having legitimately exercised the right to express their views in a pluralistic public debate, is scandalous and unacceptable." The Turkish government did not comment on the case. Ankara has previously rejected Western criticism of its rights record, accusing European institutions of bias and interference. Turkey is a member of the Council of Europe, the continent's leading human rights body. REUTERS
