Today the Turkey Tribunal will render its final opinion
Today the Turkey Tribunal will render its final opinion
The tribunal will answer the question if the legal conditions to qualify the facts of torture and abductions as crimes against humanity are fulfilled, so further steps (ICC) could be taken.
Press releases
1) STATEMENT OF THE TURKEY TRIBUNAL OFFICIAL INDEPENDENT OBSERVERS
2) JUDGES of the TURKEY TRIBUNAL GIVE FINAL OPINION
With
Prof. Em. Dr. Francoise Barones Tulkens
Vice Chairperson of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg
Prof. Em. Dr. Johan Vande Lanotte
Former deputy Prime Minister of the federal government of Belgium and initiative taker of the Turkey Tribunal
Prof. Dr. Rik Vandewalle
Rector of the Ghent University
Prof. Em. Dr. Marc baron Bossuyt
President of the organising committee
& the four observers
Maria Arena
Member of European Parliament
Kathleen Van Brempt
Member of European Parliament
Klas Grinell
Director of the Center for European studies at Gothenburg University (CERGU)
Marianna Kakaounaki
Investigative Journalist and Filmmaker
More information and to arrange interviews please contact the press office on: +41 77 997 4892 or per mail: media@turkeytribunal.com
The judges of the Turkey Tribunal will give their final and considered opinion based on the reports and the evidence that has been presented to them over the four days of the Turkey Tribunal.
The Tribunal was convened as a ‘people’s court’ to consider the allegations of gross human rights violations in the Republic of Turkey bringing together a group of esteemed judges, who are beyond reproach in their professional capacities, to give their opinion on the evidence presented.
The tribunal on Monday was opened by Prof. Dr. Yves Flückiger, rector of the Geneva University and has been a success with a maximum attendance in person and online.
The judges’ findings will be delivered by Prof. Em. Dr.Francoise Barones Tulkens a leading judge and latterly Vice Chairperson of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
The results of the Turkey Tribunal are significant because it is the first time that such a body of work has been compiled and underpinned with witness statements and verified to such high legal standards. Not only will it define whether there is substantiated evidence of torture, abduction, suppression of press freedom and of expression, a lack of judicial independence and a regime of impunity. It also will answer the question if the legal conditions to qualify the facts of torture and abductions as crimes against humanity are fulfilled, so further steps (ICC) could be taken.
Despite being officially invited to participate, the Turkish authorities have sought to disrupt and cancel the Turkey Tribunal, putting pressure on the Swiss government. They have not offered any rebuttal of the evidence being presented. The organisers can give more detail about the pressure put by the Turkish authorities and will show that the attempt of the Turkish government to silence the Tribunal failed as more than 120 000 participation views were recorded on You tube channels in both English and Turkish with over a million engagements on twitter daily.
The judges’ pronouncement will be followed by closing remarks on the outcome by the rector of the Ghent University Prof. Dr. Rik Vandewalle and the president of the organising committee Em. Prof Dr. Marc baron Bossuyt.
After that, both Professor Vandewalle and Professor Bossuyt, and the observers: Maria Arena, Member of European Parliament; Kathleen Van Brempt, Member of European Parliament, Klas Grinell Director of the Center for European studies at Gothenburg University (CERGU) and Marianna Kakaounaki, Investigative Journalist and Filmmaker will be available for interview and comment as well as Prof.Dr. Em. Johan Vande Lanotte, former deputy Prime Minister of the federal government of Belgium and initiative taker of the Turkey Tribunal.
Members of the press are invited to participate in the session which will be followed by drinks in the hotel and the opportunity for one on one interviews. Those who want to follow the press conference digitally can register on zoom via Club Suisse de la presse :