International Non-Governmental Organizations are urging Turkish authorities to release Professor Şebnem Korur Fincancı, President of the Union of Turkish Medical Associations, who has been arrested on accusations of “producing propaganda for a terrorist organization.”
This week, the Turkish police on detained the chair of Turkish Medical Association (TTB) Şebnem Korur Fincancı in Istanbul over the charge of “producing propaganda for a terrorist organization” after her statement that the Turkish Armed Forces had seemed to have used chemical weapons in their operations against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). She was later arrested.
The arrest came after Fincancı’s comments on video footage that claimed that the Turkish army has used chemical weapons. As Duvar English reported, Fincancı argued that in her opinion “obviously, one of the toxic chemical gases that directly affects the nervous system was used. Although its use is prohibited, we see it used in conflicts here.” She urged an independent delegations to carry out investigations in the region in relation to the allegations. Fincancı is also the chair of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV).
Amnesty International issued a statement in solidarity with Fincanci. Amnesty International’s Senior Research Advisor for Europe, said:
“Jailing this leading human rights defender simply for calling for an independent investigation into the alleged use of banned weapons is an appalling abuse of power. Arbitrarily imprisoning Şebnem Korur Fincancı has nothing to do with justice and everything to do with silencing her and sending a chilling message to others.
“Detaining Prof Fincancı contradicts Turkey’s obligations to protect human rights defenders in the course of their vital work. Instead of harassing and persecuting her, the Turkish authorities should instead take steps to ensure she can conduct her work free from fear and intimidation.
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders which has a partnership of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) strongly condemed Fincancı’s arbitrary arrest which they argued “seems to be only aimed at punishing her for her legitimate human rights activities and the exercise of her right to freedom of expression”. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders urged the authorities in Turkey to immediately and unconditionally release Şebnem Korur Fincancı and to put an end to the incessant judicial harassment and targeting she is subjected to.