A Decade of Decline: Advocates of Silenced Turkey on Human Rights in Post-2016 Turkey

What happens when the very institutions designed to safeguard democratic freedoms become instruments of repression? In Turkey, this question became tragically real following the 2016 coup attempt. Since then, courts, schools, and media—pillars of a healthy civil society—have been systematically transformed into tools of control. The result has been the erosion of civil liberties, the suppression of dissent, and the institutionalization of fear across every layer of public life.

This judicial and democratic backsliding has been well-documented by a wide range of actors, including the United Nations Human Rights Council, UN Special Rapporteurs, the European Court of Human Rights, and Human Rights Watch. Among these, Advocates of Silenced Turkey (AST) has played a crucial role in exposing human rights abuses through rigorous research and advocacy. By amplifying the voices of victims—often silenced by censorship or fear—AST helps ensure that these stories are not buried under state propaganda or forgotten by the international community.

The consequences of institutional collapse are far-reaching. The judiciary, once expected to provide checks on executive power, now functions as a mechanism for political punishment. Independent media have been either shut down or brought under state control. Universities have lost their autonomy, while civil society organizations operate under constant threat of closure or prosecution. In today’s Turkey, speaking out has become a liability, silence a survival strategy, and truth itself a battleground.

The Aftermath of the 2016 Coup Attempt

The failed coup attempt in July 2016 marked a dramatic turning point for Turkish democracy. Under the guise of national security, the government initiated a sweeping purge across public and private sectors. Judges, teachers, journalists, and civil servants were arrested or dismissed en masse.

More than 150,000 individuals were summarily fired from public service, often without due process. Over 100,000 people were detained, and more than 500,000 were investigated under broad anti-terrorism laws. The scale and speed of the crackdown pointed not to targeted counterinsurgency, but to a systemic effort to eliminate dissent and reshape Turkish society according to the government's political agenda.

The state of emergency, declared just days after the coup, granted President Erdoğan sweeping powers that bypassed parliament. Thousands of institutions, including schools, media outlets, hospitals, and NGOs, were shuttered. In one of the most alarming examples, entire families were targeted, with spouses and children subjected to travel bans, social ostracization, and economic hardship.

Reports from human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch highlighted widespread abuses, including arbitrary detention, torture, and the use of solitary confinement. The post-coup period thus became less about justice and more about retribution, with the state treating political opposition and civic activism as existential threats.

Advocates of Silenced Turkey have collected hundreds of testimonies from victims of these purges, revealing a pattern of human rights violations that continues today. These accounts not only document personal suffering but also map the contours of a broader dismantling of democratic norms in Turkey.

Advocates of Silenced Turkey: Who They Are

Advocates of Silenced Turkey (AST) is a U.S.-based nonprofit founded by Turkish citizens in exile who could no longer remain silent in the face of sweeping human rights violations back home. What began as a grassroots effort to raise awareness has evolved into one of the most comprehensive documentation and advocacy platforms focused on post-2016 Turkey.

AST’s core mission is to defend democracy, promote human rights, and amplify the stories of those who have been systematically silenced by authoritarian rule. The organization meticulously collects testimonies, compiles data, and publishes detailed reports on mass detentions, arbitrary arrests, torture, enforced disappearances, and the criminalization of dissent. These reports serve as vital evidence for international institutions and human rights defenders.

Beyond documentation, AST actively engages in international advocacy. The organization regularly submits briefings to bodies such as the United Nations Human Rights Council and the European Parliament. Their campaigns raise global awareness and urge democratic governments to apply diplomatic pressure on Turkish authorities.

AST also provides mental counseling and legal support for victims, particularly those living in exile, helping them navigate asylum systems and cope with trauma. The group collaborates with other civil society organizations, legal experts, and academic researchers to ensure that the crisis in Turkey is neither forgotten nor misrepresented.

By creating a platform where victims’ voices can be heard globally, AST plays a crucial role in resisting the normalization of authoritarianism in Turkey and defending the fundamental values of human dignity, justice, and freedom.

Advocates of Silenced Turkey: Who They Are

Advocates of Silenced Turkey (AST) is a U.S.-based nonprofit founded by Turkish citizens in exile who could no longer remain silent in the face of sweeping human rights violations back home. What began as a grassroots effort to raise awareness has evolved into one of the most comprehensive documentation and advocacy platforms focused on post-2016 Turkey.

AST’s core mission is to defend democracy, promote human rights, and amplify the stories of those who have been systematically silenced by authoritarian rule. The organization meticulously collects testimonies, compiles data, and publishes detailed reports on mass detentions, arbitrary arrests, torture, enforced disappearances, and the criminalization of dissent. These reports serve as vital evidence for international institutions and human rights defenders.

Beyond documentation, AST actively engages in international advocacy. The organization regularly submits briefings to bodies such as the United Nations Human Rights Council and the European Parliament. Their campaigns raise global awareness and urge democratic governments to apply diplomatic pressure on Turkish authorities.

AST also provides psychological and legal support for victims, particularly those living in exile, helping them navigate asylum systems and cope with trauma. The group collaborates with other civil society organizations, legal experts, and academic researchers to ensure that the crisis in Turkey is neither forgotten nor misrepresented.

By creating a platform where victims’ voices can be heard globally, AST plays a crucial role in resisting the normalization of authoritarianism in Turkey and defending the fundamental values of human dignity, justice, and freedom.

Authoritarianism in Turkey: A Growing Trend

Turkey’s regression into authoritarianism is no longer just an accusation—it’s a widely documented reality substantiated by both domestic and international watchdogs. According to Freedom House, Turkey is currently classified as "Not Free," a downgrade reflecting years of institutional decay and centralized power consolidation. What was once a fragile but functioning democracy has increasingly adopted the characteristics of a personalized autocracy.

Emergency decrees, initially justified as temporary security measures after the 2016 coup attempt, have become permanent tools of political persecution. These decrees have allowed the executive branch to bypass legislative and judicial scrutiny, enabling mass purges, the closure of institutions, and the imprisonment of critics without the burden of legal accountability.

President Erdoğan's administration has also used constitutional reforms—most notably the 2017 referendum—to abolish the prime minister's office and expand presidential powers dramatically. The result is a government that operates with minimal checks and balances, marginalizing opposition voices in both parliament and public life.

Civil society, once vibrant and diverse, has been eviscerated. Protests are routinely banned, and demonstrators face brutal crackdowns. Human rights defenders are arrested for activities as benign as attending workshops or sharing social media posts. This growing climate of fear has forced many activists underground or into exile.

Observers from the Venice Commission, the Council of Europe, and the UN Special Rapporteurs have all raised alarms about Turkey’s trajectory. Their concerns echo those of Advocates of Silenced Turkey, who warn that the country is not simply facing a temporary political crisis, but an entrenched authoritarian transformation.

Freedom of Press in Turkey: A Dismantled Institution

Turkey now ranks among the world’s top jailers of journalists, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders. Since 2016, the media landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation from pluralism to near-total state control. Hundreds of press credentials have been revoked, and dozens of media organizations—including newspapers, television stations, and news agencies—have been summarily closed.

Those that remain face relentless pressure. Many formerly independent outlets are now owned by conglomerates with close ties to the government. This has led to widespread self-censorship, biased reporting, and a sharp decline in investigative journalism. Journalists who persist in critical reporting often face criminal charges such as “insulting the president” or “supporting terrorism.”

Prominent figures like Ahmet Altan and Can Dündar have become symbols of this repression. Altan was imprisoned for years without clear evidence, while Dündar was forced into exile after facing charges for revealing state secrets. Their stories reflect a broader reality in which press freedom has been effectively dismantled.

Digital journalism has also come under assault. The Turkish government routinely blocks websites, censors social media, and pressures tech companies to remove content. Laws passed in 2022 now require platforms to appoint Turkish representatives and comply with take-down orders or face throttling, fines, or outright bans.

This environment has left Turkish citizens with limited access to independent information, eroding their ability to make informed decisions and participate in democratic processes.

Exile and Diaspora: The New Normal for Dissenters

Thousands of Turkish citizens, including journalists, academics, judges, teachers, and civil society leaders, have fled the country since 2016, seeking safety from state persecution. Many of them faced arbitrary arrest, prolonged detention, asset confiscation, and public shaming before finally managing to escape. For those branded as enemies of the state, exile became not a choice, but a necessity for survival.

Advocates of Silenced Turkey have documented hundreds of such stories, each marked by loss, resilience, and the search for justice. Some families escaped via perilous routes—across rivers and borders in the dead of night—only to find themselves in unfamiliar lands with no support system. Others navigated the bureaucratic maze of international asylum, often while coping with psychological trauma and financial hardship.

Despite these challenges, the diaspora has become a vital voice for Turkish democracy. Exiled academics continue their research abroad, journalists publish from exile-run platforms, and human rights defenders build international networks to raise awareness about the situation in Turkey. Diaspora communities have established their own media outlets, educational institutions, and legal clinics to support both fellow exiles and advocacy efforts.

Through its outreach, AST ensures that the voices of the exiled are not lost in the noise of geopolitics. Their testimonies serve as living archives of state repression and as powerful calls to action for the global community to stand against authoritarianism.

Silencing Civil Society: The Death of NGOs

Following the 2016 coup attempt, civil society in Turkey became one of the government’s prime targets. Over 1,500 associations and foundations were permanently shut down—many without any form of judicial process. The closures were often justified with vague accusations of “terrorist affiliations,” yet credible evidence was rarely presented. Human rights organizations, cultural groups, educational foundations, and charitable associations all fell victim to this indiscriminate purge.

The destruction of these institutions dismantled support networks that once served marginalized communities, educated vulnerable youth, and defended minority rights. It left a gaping hole in civic life, making it more difficult for citizens to organize, express dissent, or access basic services. The government's message was clear: independent civic activity was no longer tolerated.

Education Under Fire: Purging the Intelligentsia

More than 100,000 educators were dismissed or detained, including thousands of university professors. Many were accused of supporting terrorism or having links to the Gülen movement. These accusations often lacked transparency and due process, tarnishing careers and reputations without substantiation.

Universities lost what little autonomy they had left. A 2018 presidential decree gave Erdoğan the authority to appoint university rectors directly, bypassing traditional academic selection processes. This centralization of control transformed higher education into a mouthpiece for government ideology, silencing critical thought and independent research.

Judiciary in Crisis: The End of Independent Courts

The judiciary, once a check on executive power, has been hollowed out. Nearly 4,500 judges and prosecutors were dismissed, with many arrested and imprisoned. The vacancies were quickly filled with politically loyal appointees, further compromising judicial independence.

Trials became performative rather than substantive. Lawyers defending political prisoners were themselves prosecuted. Verdicts seemed predetermined, with many trials failing to meet international standards of fairness. The result is a legal system that punishes opposition and protects the powerful.

Women and Children: Collateral Victims of Repression

Women and children have suffered uniquely under the post-2016 crackdown. Many women were detained during or immediately after pregnancy. Some gave birth in handcuffs; others raised infants behind bars.

AST has documented stories of mothers incarcerated for alleged ties to opposition movements, often based on flimsy evidence like having a bank account at a certain institution or working for a banned organization. These actions have deeply traumatized families and violated numerous international human rights conventions.

Economic Consequences of Authoritarian Rule

The widespread purges and instability have severely damaged Turkey’s economy. Foreign investors pulled out due to concerns about legal unpredictability and state intervention. Unemployment soared, especially among the youth and educated population. Inflation hit record highs, devastating household savings and driving many into poverty.

The government has attempted to paint a picture of economic recovery, but the lived reality for millions of citizens tells a different story. As poverty grows, so does public dissatisfaction and dissent, albeit quietly, given the risks of speaking out.

International Response: Tepid at Best

While some international organizations and democratic governments have condemned Turkey’s human rights violations, their responses have been largely symbolic. Economic interests, NATO alliances, and refugee agreements have muted strong diplomatic action.

European Union membership negotiations, once a source of democratic leverage, have stalled. Despite well-documented abuses, meaningful sanctions or accountability measures remain rare. This lack of global pressure emboldens authoritarian tendencies within the Turkish regime.

AST’s Ongoing Mission

Advocates of Silenced Turkey continue to document human rights violations, advocate for victims, and inform the global community. They publish regular reports, hold awareness campaigns, and support asylum seekers navigating life in exile.

Their mission goes beyond exposure—it aims to empower victims and mobilize international actors. AST's meticulous documentation ensures that the injustices of today do not become the forgotten tragedies of tomorrow.

A Call for Global Solidarity

The repression in Turkey is part of a broader global trend where authoritarian regimes use fear and force to dismantle democracies. In this context, the work of organizations like AST becomes even more crucial.

They provide a blueprint for civil resistance, international advocacy, and the defense of human rights under extreme repression. By supporting AST and similar efforts, the international community can stand up for the fundamental freedoms that transcend borders and ideologies.

Conclusion: Advocates of Silenced Turkey Stand as a Beacon in the Darkness

The decline of civil liberties in Turkey since 2016 is not just a national tragedy—it is a profound global warning. What happens in one country can resonate far beyond its borders, especially when democratic institutions are eroded and the suppression of basic freedoms becomes normalized. In such a world, organizations like Advocates of Silenced Turkey offer more than reports—they offer resistance, resilience, and hope.

Through their tireless documentation and research, international advocacy, and community support, AST ensures that the pain endured by thousands does not go unnoticed or unchallenged. They speak for the silenced, bring justice into the light, and inspire others to act. Their unwavering commitment reminds us that even in the darkest times, the defense of human dignity and truth must persist.

We invite you to read more stories on our site, get involved with our work, and stand with those fighting for freedom, justice, and democracy across the globe.

FAQs About Advocates of Silenced Turkey

What is Advocates of Silenced Turkey?

Advocates of Silenced Turkey is a nonprofit organization dedicated to documenting human rights violations and advocating for victims of political repression in Turkey.

Why is Turkey considered authoritarian?

Post-2016, Turkey has used emergency laws to consolidate power, jail journalists, and suppress civil society, leading many to classify its government as authoritarian.

What happened to press freedom in Turkey?

Freedom of press in Turkey has sharply declined since 2016, with hundreds of journalists arrested, media outlets shut down, and widespread censorship enforced.