Countries
Turkey

Turkey is a Republic of the most western part of Asia. The President is Abdulluh Gül, elected in 2007. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is the Prime Minister since 2003.

Turkey is a republic since the 1920s. The Turkish army has played a major role in the history of modern Turkey, rising to the role of guardian of the principles of laicality and Occidentalism, reaching the ultimate means of interrupting parliamentarian dynamics with three coups d’état (1960, 1971, 1980), followed by short-term military governments.

In recent years the Turkish army has avoided resorting to coups, but has never renounced to its role of guardian of the Republic. In particular, the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Army controlled (until 2003) the political developments through the MGK (National Security Council), whose “recommendations” were more or less unavoidable by political institutions. Even today, even though constitutional reforms have reduced the military side of the MGK, the Turkish army continues to detain the role of guard of the Constitution, blocking liberal reforms in the country.

Human rights have feel the effects of the political instability and the military fights.
Reports on torture and abuse continue, while voices of dissent have been persecuted and threatened.
The right to pacific association has been denied and police forces have used excessive force to disperse demonstrators.

Freedom of expression is limited under the anti-terrorism law. Arrested people accordino to this law have not received a just trial while police forces are basically unpunished for human rights violations.
There has been little progress in guaranteeing the right to conscientious objection to military service. The forces repatriation of refugees have increased. Discriminations on sexual orientation and gender identity has not diminished. The accomplishment of laws to prevent violence against women and girls has continued slowly.