UN expresses 'deep concern' over harassment of Turkish environmental defenders

United Nations human rights experts have publicly voiced "deep concern" over the alleged judicial and administrative harassment of environmental defenders in Turkey. The UN Special Rapporteurs on Human Rights sent an official warning to the Turkish government in April concerning the arrest of Esra Işık, who was defending the Akbelen Forest, and Halime Şaman, a spokesperson for MUÇEP, whose disability pension was reportedly cut after she opposed development projects in Marmaris.

After the government failed to respond to the official communication, the rapporteurs decided to share their concerns publicly. Their statement highlights the "judicial and administrative harassment" faced by individuals resisting "ecological destruction." The UN experts are monitoring the situation of activists who are reportedly facing legal and administrative challenges for their environmental advocacy.

The UN's intervention underscores the international attention on environmental protection and human rights in Turkey. The cases of Işık and Şaman bring to light the struggles of local activists who are often at the forefront of defending natural resources against development and industrial projects. The rapporteurs' decision to go public signals the seriousness with which they view the alleged persecution of these defenders.