UN Human Rights Council seeks Turkey's explanation on actions against environmental activists

Eight UN special rapporteurs and the Working Group of the Human Rights Council have formally requested the Turkish government to provide detailed explanations regarding legal and administrative measures taken against environmental defenders Esra Işık and Halime Şaman.

The request covers several points: the legal basis for Işık’s arrest on 31 March and her subsequent transfer to a distant prison, the status of the 300,000‑lira compensation lawsuit involving Şaman, the reasons for cutting Şaman’s disability pension, how public participation was handled in the Akbelen and Marmaris National Park projects, and what safeguards are in place to protect environmental and human‑rights advocates from economic pressure.

UN experts highlighted concerns that such lawsuits and pension actions may be used to silence activists, and they urged Turkey to ensure freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are respected.