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The first section of this report describes the work of the AAAS Science and Human Rights Program and the underlying principles on which the Program's work is based. It explains how, in the early 1990s, the growing number of cases of persecuted scientists coming from Turkey led the Program to undertake a number of initiatives, including a series of missions. During the missions, the author attended... More

The first section of this report describes the work of the AAAS Science and Human Rights Program and the underlying principles on which the Program's work is based. It explains how, in the early 1990s, the growing number of cases of persecuted scientists coming from Turkey led the Program to undertake a number of initiatives, including a series of missions. During the missions, the author attended trials against the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey, met government officials, parliamentarians, representatives of NGOs (including human rights NGOs), intellectuals, and journalists. The author met with scientists who either continue to be or were formerly political prisoners and whose cases have been documented by the AAAS Human Rights Action Network (AAASHRAN).

Section II summarizes Turkey's human rights practices. It describes how broadly worded legislation prohibits free and open intellectual discourse on topics considered sensitive to Turkish authorities, such as Kurdish culture, Kurdish political representation, and Turkish policies in the southeast of Turkey, to name only a few. Turkish scholars and researchers have routinely exercised self-censorship on issues recognized as taboo by the academic establishment. In addition, social scientists, journalists and human rights workers who advocate a peaceful solution to the Kurdish problem have been arrested; and medical professionals who conduct their work in accordance with their ethical obligations have been prosecuted. These violations not only contravene Turkey's international obligations, but also basic principles of medical ethics.

A brief overview of the historical context in which these violations take place is provided in Section III. It describes how the ideology set forth by the Republic's founder, Mustafa Ataturk, and his response to Kurdish opposition set the stage for Turkey's current practices.

Section IV focuses on four cases investigated by the author that demonstrate how scientists have been adversely affected by Turkey's repressive practices. The Turkish government launched these cases against representatives of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey, medical doctor Seyfettin Kizilkan, political scientist Haluk Gerger, and sociologist Ismail Besikci. Each of these cases concerns the violation of fundamental freedoms enumerated in international treaties to which Turkey is a State Party, as well as critical issues at the juncture of science and human rights, such as freedom of expression and association, professional ethics versus state security claims, and medical confidentiality. The scientists whose cases are detailed in this report have faced charges, been brought to trial, and been fined and imprisoned for exercising their right to freedom of expression and association, monitoring and documenting human rights violations, or merely conducting their work in accordance with professional ethical standards. This is not to suggest that scientists have been directly targeted by Turkish authorities; however, some scientists whose political opinions are contrary to accepted state ideology have faced violations of their internationally recognized human rights while attempting to carry out professional activities.

A concluding section describes Turkey's current endeavors to ease international criticism of its human rights record and offers some suggestions on concrete measures, that if implemented would contribute to the improvement of human rights in Turkey.

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