Upholding Human Rights: Questions Raised Over Police Conduct During Suruç Commemoration

On July 20, 2023, Turkey came together to commemorate the tragic 2015 Islamic State (ISIS) suicide bombing in Suruç, which claimed the lives of thirty-three young socialist activists. The event served as a solemn remembrance of the fallen and a call for justice. However, the somber occasion took a concerning turn when Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused the Istanbul police of illegally detaining activists and mistreating them and their lawyers during the commemoration. This alleged police conduct has raised serious questions about the fundamental right to peaceful assembly and fair legal representation in Turkey.

The Suruç bombing in 2015 was a devastating act of violence that shocked the nation and claimed the lives of young activists who had gathered to support the reconstruction of the war-torn Syrian city of Kobanî. Eight years later, the nation came together to honor the memory of those who lost their lives in the tragic incident. The commemoration was intended to be a solemn occasion of reflection and unity, an opportunity to remember the lives lost and reiterate the call for justice.