September 2026 / PUBLICATIONS. 

Türkiye Implementation Watch #1  / KAVALA v. TÜRKİYE

 

On 16 September, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers examined the implementation status of European Court of Human Rights judgments concerning detained human rights defender Osman Kavala.

The CM asked Türkiye for information on measures to ensure Osman Kavala’s release and eliminate the consequences of his conviction, and general measures addressing root causes of recurring human rights violations.

The CM said it has already called for Kavala’s release numerous times and will consider taking further action in December. It also referred to the European Court’s recent Kavala (no. 2) judgment finding Osman Kavala's conviction null and void and will examine Türkiye's action plan to address systemic and structural problems, including the systemic issues around judicial independence, identified in that judgment in March 2027.

Osman Kavala has been unjustly detained since 2017 despite 3 binding ECtHR judgments. His persecution must end immediately and Türkiye must take the necessary measures to end the abuse of criminal law to silence dissent.

Read the CM’s decision here:

https://rm.coe.int/09125948802da47f

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Türkiye Implementation Watch #2 / DEMİRTAŞ (2) & YÜKSEKDAĞ JUDGMENTS 

 

On 16 September the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers issued a decision on Türkiye’s implementation of the European Court of Human Rights’ Demirtaş (no. 2) and Yüksekdağ Şenoğlu group of judgments on the politically motivated detention of opposition MPs in Türkiye.

The CM has once more requested the immediate release of former MPs and HDP co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ Şenoğlu, and called on Türkiye to duly apply safeguards for parliamentarians’ political expression, in line with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Demirtaş & Yüksekdağ Şenoğlu have remained unlawfully detained since 2016 despite binding ECtHR judgments ordering their release. They must be immediately released and the politically motivated detention and repression of opposition MPs and politicians in Türkiye must come to an end.

Read the CM’s decision here:

https://rm.coe.int/09125948802d9bad

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Türkiye Implementation Watch #3 / GURBAN GROUP JUDGMENTS

 

In December the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers will examine Türkiye’s implementation of the European Court of Human Rights’ Gurban group of judgments on the execution regime that provides no review for prisoners serving aggravated life sentences for certain offences.

In a September 2025 interim resolution, the Committee of Ministers expressed deep regret that no measures had been adopted and urged Türkiye to act without further delay. It pointed to routes already available, including the new Human Rights Action Plan, the ongoing process for the disarmament of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), and the work of the National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission. The authorities were asked to provide information by June 2026. A year on, there has been no movement from Türkiye.

Ahead of the CM’s December meeting, we reiterate the need for Türkiye to implement the European Court of Human Rights’ judgments, uphold the prohibition on torture and other ill-treatment and respect the right to hope by promptly introducing an adequate review mechanism.

For the steps Türkiye must take, read and share our 2025 submission to the CM with the European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights (ELDH), Democracy and International Law Association (MAF-DAD), and London Legal Group (LLG), outlining key safeguards the mechanism should include:

Türkiye: The Right to Hope Must Be Recognised – Aggravated Life Sentences Under Scrutiny | Turkey Litigation Support Project

Read the interim resolution:
https://search.coe.int/cm/eng?i=09125948802873a4