TurkeyRegionalActionNetwork

URGENTACTION TurkeyMustStopDisgracefulPoliceViolence
(updatedJune7,2013) SinceMay29th,over4,000peoplehavebeeninjured,manyseriously,andthereisat leastoneconfirmeddeath,acrossTurkeyafterpoliceusedwatercannonandteargas againstdemonstrators. ProtestsbeganinGeziParkinTaksim,inthecentreofTurkey'slargestcity,Istanbul,onMay 27th.Afewhundredprotestersoccupiedtheparktodemonstrateagainstitsdestructiontomake wayforthebuildingofashoppingcentre.IntheearlyhoursofMay29th,policestartedto dispersethem,usingteargas,watercannon,andexcessiveforce.Protestsspreadacrossthe country,andbySundayJune2nd,therewerehundredsofprotestsin67provinces. AccordingtoAmnestysshortvideoclip,policebrutalityhasreachednewlevels.Asprotests continuethroughoutTurkey,thetolloftheoutrageousandindiscriminateuseofexcessiveforce byTurkishpolicecontinuestorise.SinceMay31,morethan4,000protestershavebeeninjured, manyseriously,andthereisatleastoneconfirmeddeathacrossTurkey.Countlesspeoplehave beenunjustlydetainedandabusedbypoliceforcesamidmassiveprotests.Turkishofficialssay policeareactinginlinewithhumanrightsstandards.However,wehavewitnessedpolice brutalityagainstpeople,bothprotestersandbystandersalike,includingindiscriminatebeatings, andfiringofteargascanistersdirectlynotonlyatnonviolentprotesters,butalsointohomes, metrostation,businesses,andattheentranceofahospital. AmnestyInternationalhasbeenplayingacrucialroleinhelpingvictimsandcallingattentionto whatTurkeysgovernmentisdoing.AddyourvoiceNOWtothetensofthousandswhohave alreadyaddedtheirnamestoAmnestyscalltotheTurkishgovernment: 1. Immediatelyenditsexcessiveuseofforceagainstpeacefulprotestors 2. Protectitscitizensbasicrightsoffreedomofexpressionandassemblyand 3. Lunchinvestigationsintoabusebysecurityservicesandholdaccountablethose responsible.

FOURSTEPSYOUCANTAKENOWtostoptheabuseofprotestersinTurkey:

1)SignAmnestyInternationalUSAonlinepetition:
Ittakesonly2minutes.Sopleaseencourageyourfriendsandfamilytosignthepetitionrightnow byclickinghere.

2)Twittercampaign:
Ifyouareactiveontwitter,pleaseretweetus@AIUSA_TURKRAN.Herearesomesuggested tweets:

.@RT_ErdoganIntervenenow!Nomoreabusiveuseofforcebypolice@aforgutu #insanhaklar#humanrightsforturkey#humanrights .@RT_ErdoganTurkishauthoritiesmustallowtherighttopeacefulprotestofthe demonstrators@aforgutu#insanhaklar#humanrightsforturkey .@RT_ErdoganNomorepolicebeatings!Nomorefiringteargascanistersdeliberatelyat protesters@aforgutu#humanrightsforturkey .@RT_ErdoganReleaseuptodateandaccurateinformationonnumbersandextentof injuries@aforgutu#insanhaklar#humanrightsforturkey .@RT_ErdoganCallimmediate,independent&impartialinvestigationintoallegationsof excessiveforce@aforgutu#humanrightsforturkey .@RT_ErdoganChangetrack:Stoptheviolence,allowpeacefulprotest,investigate abusesandneverallowitagain@aforgutu#insanhaklar .@RT_ErdoganNomoredeathsatdemonstrationsin#Turkey!@aforgutu#insanhaklar #humanrightsforturkey#humanrights

3)WritedirectlytotheTurkishgovernment!
1. Callingontheauthoritiestoimmediatelyendtheexcessiveuseofforceagainst peacefulprotestors 2. Callingforthemtoensuretherighttofreedomofexpressionandassemblyand 3. Urgingforaprompt,independentandimpartialinvestigationintotheexcessiveuseof forceandbringtojusticelawenforcementofficialsfoundtohaveilltreated demonstratorsorothermembersofthepublic.

SampleLetter:
Dear_______, IhavebeenshockedbyimagesshowingpoliceactionsagainstdemonstratorsinIstanbulandotherTurkish cities,andcallupontheTurkishgovernmenttoimmediatelyendtheexcessiveuseofforceagainstpeaceful demonstrators.Thereneedstobeaprompt,independentandimpartialinvestigationintotheexcesses committedbylawenforcementofficialssothatthosewhohaveilltreateddemonstratorsandothermembers ofthepubliccanbebroughttojustice.IhopethatinthefutureTurkishauthoritieswillensuretherightto freedomofexpressionandassembly,rightsthatareessentialforanytrulydemocraticstate.

PLEASESENDAPPEALSBEFORE17JUNE2013TO: PrimeMinisterMrRecepTayyipErdoan OfficeofthePrimeMinister, Babakanlk, 06573Ankara,Turkey Fax:+90(312)4221899 Email:ozelkalem@basbakanlik.gov.tr Salutation:DearPrimeMinister MinisterofInteriorMr.MuammerGler ileriBakanl Bakanlklar Ankara,Turkey Fax:+903124181795 Salutation:DearMinister Andcopiesto: ParliamentaryCommissiononHumanRightsChairAyhanSeferstn TBMMnsanHaklarncelemeKomisyonu Bakanlklar,06543Ankara,Turkey Fax:+903124205394 Email:insanhaklarikom@tbmm.gov.tr AmbassadorNamikTan Embassy,RepublicofTurkey 2525MassachusettsAve.,NW Washington,DC20008 *IfyouliveoutsidetheUSA,pleasecopytodiplomaticrepresentativesaccreditedtoyour country.Youcanfindtheirmailinginformationhere.

4)RaiseAwareness&Stayinformed Sharethisdocumentwithyourfriendsandfamilyaroundtheworldandencouragethemtotake actionswithyourightnow.Onevoiceofprotestcanbeignored,butthousands,and hundredsofthousandscannot! StayinformedbyfollowingAmnestyUSAsworkonTurkeyonourfacebookpage,blogsite, HumanRightsinTurkey,andtwitter@AIUSA_TURKRANandwewillkeepyouuptodateon howtotakefurtheractions. Questions?EmailAIUSATURKRANCoordinatorNatsumiAjikiatnajiki@mac.com. ___________________________

AmnestyInternationalpublicationsonthecrisis: WhatYouCanDoNOWtoStoptheAbuseofProtestersinTurkey(June4,2013) Turkeymustendabusiveuseofforceandrevealtheextentofinjuries(June3,2013) AlarmingIncreaseinPoliceViolenceandAbusiveForceAgainstPeacefulProtestersin Turkey(June3,2013) Turkey:DisgracefuluseofexcessivepoliceforceinIstanbul(June1,2013) TurkeymusthaltbrutalpolicerepressionandinvestigateabusesatIstanbulprotest (May31,2013) AmnestyInternationalcondemnsuseofexcessiveforceagainstpeacefulprotestors (May30,2013)

CheckoutAmnestysurgentglobalcampaigntoendTurkeyspoliceviolenceandprotectthe righttofreedomofexpressionin: France Germany Israel Japan TheNetherland NewZealand Sweden Turkey AmnestyTurkeysonlinepetitionclickhere TheU.K.