Photo: Batıkan Erkoç, (third R), together with members of the Department for the Execution of Judgments of the ECtHR during his advocacy visit to Strasbourg.
MLSA - During an advocacy visit to Strasbourg on March 1, the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) informed various bodies of the Council of Europe, including the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), about the implementation of the court's decisions regarding freedom of expression in Turkey.
In collaboration with its partner, the European Implementation Network (EIN), MLSA briefed delegates of the Department for the Execution of Judgments and the Committee of Ministers on developments in various freedom of expression cases, including Öner and Türk against Turkey.
Batıkan Erkoç, Project and Grants Manager representing MLSA, attended these briefing meetings, where 2023 Case Monitoring Program data and written submissions by the MLSA Legal Unit were referenced. These meetings aimed to share trends and approaches in freedom of expression cases before the Committee of Ministers' human rights session in March. The upcoming session will address the implementation of various freedom of expression cases in Turkey.
During the meeting with Işık Batmaz from the Department for the Execution of Judgments of the Council of Europe, changes brought by the 8th judicial reform package were discussed in light of the data from the case monitoring program. The meeting, which also discussed recent written submissions by MLSA, emphasized the importance of MLSA's monitoring work for the department.
In a presentation attended by delegates of the Committee of Ministers from various member countries of the Council, attention was drawn to the increasing terrorism charges against journalists in recent times. Data on provisions of the Turkish Penal Code and the Anti-Terror Law causing human rights violations were shared, particularly noting the widespread use of Article 6, Paragraph 1 of the Anti-Terror Law, which criminalizes "targeting individuals involved in counter-terrorism."
MLSA frequently contributes to the process of implementing ECHR decisions by submitting written communications and conducting briefing meetings with the Council of Europe.
