URGE THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT TO RELEASE FATMA GORMEZ’S HUSBAND ON CONDITIONS OF TRIAL WITHOUT ARREST TO SUPPORT AND TAKE CARE OF HER

On July 15, 2016, Turkey witnessed an attempted but failed military coup against the Erdogan government. During this horrific uprising, hundreds of people were killed and thousands of others were injured. Right after the coup attempt, the Turkish government has taken a wave of oppressive actions against not only the alleged coup plotters but also those that are perceived as critics of the regime. With that, the country’s political spectrum has been completely changed. Under the state of emergency that followed Turkey’s 2016 coup attempt, almost 130,000 public sector workers were arbitrarily dismissed through executive decrees. Terrorism charges continued to be widely used. As of June, almost one-fifth (48,924) of the total prison population (246,426) had been charged with or convicted of terrorism offenses, according to the Ministry of Justice.

Fatma Gormez, a former teacher who was removed from her job in the aftermath of a failed coup in Turkey in July 2016, now weighs only 29 kilograms​ due to a series of health problems. She had two heart surgeries, one open and one closed, which were linked to kidney issues. She also lost her hearing ability.

Berk Gormez, a 14-year-old disabled son of that couple who were both purged, lost his life in January 2018. Berk’s father, Bekir Gormez was not permitted to visit him for the last 17 months despite his and his mother’s severe health problems. During the funeral of Berk, Bekir Gormez was not allowed to take his handcuffs off.​

The case of Fatma Gormez was submitted to the Supreme Court requesting her husband’s release by the court pending his trial. In cases of alleged human rights violations, detainees have the right to apply directly to the Constitutional Court for redress while their criminal case is proceeding. Nevertheless, a backlog of cases at the Constitutional Court slowed proceedings, preventing expeditious redress.

JOIN US to urge the Turkish government to release Fatma’s husband on conditions of trial without arrest to support and take care of her!

Advocates of Silenced Turkey​  | Twitter

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE, TURKEY

The Honorable Abdülhamit Gül
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
06659 Kizilay
Ankara, Republic of Turkey
Email: info@adalet.gov.tr

UNHCHR  | The Honorable Michelle Bachelet Jeria

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights
Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
CH- 121 I Geneva 10. Switzerland
Email: civilsociety@ohchr.org

UN WOMEN | Phumzile Mlambo

Executive Director of UN Women
twitter: @phumzileunwomen
Address: CSW Communications Procedure
Human Rights Section
UN Women
220 East 42nd Street, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10017 USA
e-mail: cp-csw@unwomen.org.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Address: 2201 C St NW, Washington, DC 20520

Ph: (202) 647-4000 

 Twitter: @StateDept ​ | Contact

FREEDOM HOUSE

Washington Office Address: 1850 M Street NW, Floor 11, Washington D.C. 20036 info@freedomhouse.org  | Twitter: @FreedomHouseDC

AMBASSADOR OF TURKEY TO US.  |The Honorable Serdar Kilic
Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to the
United States
Embassy of the Republic of Turkey
2525 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC, USA 20008
Email: embassy.washingtondc@mfa.gov.tr