Nils Mui

Europe's human rights commissioner has rung alarm bells over human rights abuses during Turkey's ongoing counter-terrorism operations, particularly in the country's southeast, while painting a gloomy picture of freedom of expression and judicial independence.

Europe's human rights commissioner has rung alarm bells over human rights abuses during Turkey's ongoing counter-terrorism operations, particularly in the southeast, while portraying a gloomy picture of freedom of expression and judicial independence.

The Council of Europe has expressed "great concern" over the arrest of three academics on March 15 on charges of "supporting terror," calling it an "unacceptable" move that will raise questions of compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Mui?nieks has expressed concern about recent negative developments affecting the right to freedom of expression in Turkey, citing the recent ban on reporting about the investigation into the Oct. 10 suicide bombing in Ankara. 

The President?s Office has dismissed growing criticism of a police raid on a Turkish magazine over its cover bearing a montage picture of a smiling President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an taking a ?selfie? in front of the coffin of a soldier, claiming that ?insults? cannot be considered part of freedom of expression.

Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Mui?nieks has urged Turkish authorities to allow independent observers to enter Cizre, amid growing concerns of serious human rights violations. 

The Human Rights Association (?HD) in Turkey has brought the case of a partly demolished Armenian orphanage in Istanbul to the agenda of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. 

Demolition of the Kamp Armen orphanage started in May but was subsequently halted, when the owner of the land said he would donate it to the Armenian community in Istanbul. 

With the Turkish parliament expected to begin discussing the government?s controversial new security bill this week, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Mui?nieks has expressed his concerns and urged parliament to reconsider the bill, in a statement released on the commission?s official Facebook page on Feb. 6.