As US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visits Turkey to meet with senior Turkish officials in Ankara today, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Europe and Central Asia, Gauri van Gulik said:
“With both the Chair and Director of Amnesty International Turkey behind bars we urge Rex Tillerson to use his face-to-face meetings to call on Turkish authorities to immediately and unconditionally release them and the other human rights activist caught up in this cynical trawl.
“The US Department of State already described the arrest of Taner Kiliç, the chair of Amnesty International Turkey as part of an ‘alarming trend’. Now with arrest of Idil Eser, the Director of our Turkey office, and nine others detained with her, the situation has deteriorated further. It’s time to act and use all possible opportunities to demand that Idil, Taner and all human rights defenders are freed immediately and unconditionally.”
Secretary of State Tillerson’s visit coincides with a worldwide day of action to mark one month since the Amnesty International’s Chair, Taner Kiliç, was remanded in prison on baseless charges, and five days since its Director, Idil Eser, was detained alongside other nine human rights activists.
Background
Click for more information on the worldwide day of action
US State Department Statement
For more information or to arrange an interview contact Sue Montgomery at 613-744-7667 ext. 236 or smontgomery@amnesty.ca
