09 April 2026
Holding Fast
Perhaps the most memorable line in Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises appears in an otherwise minor exchange. Bill Gorton asks the dissolute, perpetually broke Mike Campbell how he went bankrupt. “Two ways,” Campbell replies. “Gradually, and then suddenly.” Campbell’s road to ruin will strike a familiar chord for those of us who study the rule of law in Turkey. After gradual and continuous deterioration, March 2026 will stand apart. It marks one full year since Ekrem İmamoğlu was placed in detention and his trial formally began. Continue reading >>
0 
23 March 2026
Another Click in the Wall
The Australian social media ban for children under 16 set in motion a regulatory trend across Europe. Turkey is next in line: On 4 March, a draft law imposing a social media ban on children under 15 and restrictions on children aged 15 and older was introduced in the Grand National Assembly. Although the Turkish approach offers a more nuanced model by introducing a two-tiered system, it appears that some of the central flaws of the current trend are not overcome: it ignores the potential adverse effects of excluding children from the modern public squares. Continue reading >>
0
05 June 2025
Behind Bars, Beyond Rights
The European Court of Human Rights has quietly endorsed a troubling new practice: denying prisoners access to information based solely on format, not content. In Tergek v. Türkiye, the Court upheld a ban on photocopies and printouts, deferring to vague security concerns. Read alongside Yasak, the judgment signals a broader shift away from rigorous rights protection toward deference to state narratives. If this trend continues, the Convention's core promise — to make rights practical and effective — stands on increasingly shaky ground. Continue reading >>
0
02 May 2025
Criminalising Boycott Calls
Can a call for boycott ever amount to hate speech? In an era of deepening political divides, the question is increasingly influenced by geopolitics rather than human rights law: The Turkish government's criminalization of boycott calls in response to protests against political repression highlights the dangers of weaponizing hate speech laws, echoing a global double standard that undermines the universal application of human rights protections. Continue reading >>
0
02 August 2024
Shades of Unconstitutionality
On July 12, the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye passed the 9th Package of Judicial Reforms. The package continues the tradition of amending various unrelated laws through a so-called omnibus law under the guise of reform. In addition, another feature has become remarkable: the alleged reforms deliberately overrule the decisions of the Turkish Constitutional Court (TCC), rendering its rulings null and void. Continue reading >>
0
25 July 2024
Freedom to Discuss Religion Between Facts and Opinions
In a recent televised discussion in Turkey, two Youtube-influencers have discussed Sharia law and Muhammad’s marriage with Aisha. This has caused strong reactions on social media. Moreover, after a public statement of the Justice Minister, a criminal investigation has been initiated. I argue that such statements should enjoy the full protection of freedom of expression. However, I criticise the distinction between “statements of fact and value judgements” as introduced by the ECtHR in case E.S. v Austria. Continue reading >>
0
05 July 2024
A Legal Trap for Freedom of Expression
More than seven years ago, 406 academics and researchers have been permanently dismissed from their positions at Turkish universities for signing a peace petition condemning the military operations by Turkish security forces in areas heavily populated by the Kurdish minority. The case raises critical questions about the limitations of international human rights bodies in safeguarding freedom of expression. In this blog, I demonstrate how the pragmatic considerations of the Council of Europe (CoE) contributed to the creation of a judicial trap disguised as a legal remedy. Continue reading >>
0
26 April 2024
Unfree, Unfair, and Insecure
It is essential to recognize that elections encompass more than just the act of casting votes on election day. Continue reading >>
0
23 May 2023
A Flawed Vote, Not a Horse Race
The elections in Turkey/Türkiye showed the dilemma for the political opposition in competitive authoritarian regimes: They have to create momentum for change. They must believe it is possible to win elections. If they don't believe this, their voters won't. It is difficult to avoid this dilemma, but there is something journalists, experts and officials from other countries can do: Always stress the unfairness of the conditions in which the elections are being held. Do not get a carried away by the excitement of the race. Focus on the fact that the race is not being run on level ground. Continue reading >>05 April 2023