Prisoner Wins €17,000 Damages After Turkey Human Rights Breach

On 23 November, the European Court of Human Rights gave written notice of its judgement in the case of Akalın v. Turkey (no. 23480/06)

The applicant, Nuri Akalın, is a Turkish national who was born in 1977 and is currently detained in Kandıra Prison (Turkey). Arrested in 1997 on suspicion of being a member of an illegal organisation, he was convicted in 2002 by a state security court of attempting to undermine the constitutional order under the criminal code in force at the time.

Turkey Hosts Media Conference

A conference to discuss the media’s contribution to intercultural dialogue and the fight against discrimination takes place in Istanbul from 29 November to 2 December.


The event follows similar exchanges held in Seville and Bari.

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Ahmet Davutoğlu: Europe Must Fight The Rise Of Hate Speech

Social decline is spurring radicalization and hate speech in Europe, according to Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers.

Turkey Announces Priorities As Chair of CoE Committee Of Ministers

Improving the effectiveness of the European Court of Human Rights and encouraging EU accession to the Human Rights Convention will be at the heart of Turkey’s chairmanship of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers.

Turkey Signs Up To Global Cybercrime Treaty

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Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkey's Minister of Foreign Affairs, has today signed the Convention on Cybercrime and the Additional Protocol to the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons.

Venice Commission President: Turkey Needs A New Constitution

A new constitution is needed in Turkey, according to Gianni Buquicchio the president of the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission.


“We in the Venice Commission have addressed specific constitutional issues in Turkey and have, in this context, expressed our preference for a new Constitution but we never had an opportunity to develop this argument in more detail,” he told the Istanbul  ‘Turkey in Europe’ conference earlier today.

Turkey To Host International Anti-Terrorism Conference

An international Conference on “Prevention of Terrorism: Prevention Tools, Legal Instruments and Their Implementation” will be held on 16 and 17 December in Istanbul, Turkey.


In the aftermath of a reported suicide bombing in Istanbul last month (October) which claimed 32 lives, the Council of Europe conference brings together national and international experts to address the changing nature of terrorism.