Jesper Bengtsson, president, Swedish PEN, Anna Johansson, acting Secretary General, Amnesty International, Louise Gunvén, president, Lawyers without Borders, Lena Hjelm-Wallén, chairman, Anna Lindh Memorial Fund, Anna Sundström, Secretary General, Olof Palme International Center wrote to Turkish Minister of Justice Abdulhamit Gül to support of Eren Keskin, a human rights defender who will appear before the judiciary on 15 February for her work as editor-in-chief of the newspaper Özgür Gündem.

In the letter the signatories write: “We, the undersigned are gravely concerned about Eren Keskin. She is an internationally renowned and much acclaimed lawyer, human rights activist and writer who has devoted her life to defending human rights and freedom of expression. Eren Keskin is the recipient of several international awards, including the Martin Ennals Award, The Anna Lindh Award, The Civil Society Award and The Orhan Doğan Peace Award.”

The letter adds: “The persecution and harassment of Eren Keskin is unprecedented. For decades the Turkish authorities have tried to silence her. She has received several death threats and has also been physically attacked. More than 140 separate criminal charges have been brought against her for her outspoken stand against human rights violations. She has spent time in prison, been banned from travelling abroad and has had her lawyer’s licence withdrawn once. 

On 15 February 2021 there will be a new hearing in the Özgür Gündem Main Trial, at the Istanbul High Criminal Court number 23. Eren Keskin is charged with membership of a terrorist organisation, for acting as a “solidarity editor” of the Özgür Gündem newspaper.” 

The signatories continue: “It is our strong belief that there are absolutely no grounds to the allegations of Eren Keskin being a member of a terrorist organisation. These allegations are clearly fabricated and yet another attempt to stop her from doing her legitimate human rights work and from peacefully exercising her fundamental right to freedom of expression.”

The signatories call “for the charges against Eren Keskin to be immediately dropped and that she be allowed to carry out her human rights work free from reprisals and judicial harassment.

Furthermore, we call on the Turkish government to repeal Article 301 and other articles in the penal code that unfairly limit the right to freedom of expression.”