Sebnem Korur Fincanci, President of Turkey’s Medical Association, an internationally recognized forensic physician, anti-torture expert, and human rights champion, was recently forced out of her position and imprisoned for allegedly spreading terrorist propaganda. These developments appear to be retaliation for her urging for an investigation into the alleged use of chemical weapons by Turkey’s military against the PKK in Iraq.
November 10, 2022
Recep Erdogan
President of the Republic of Turkey
Cumhurbaşkanlığı Külliyesi
06560 Beştepe-Ankara-
Turkiye
Dear President Erdogan:
The Committee of Concerned Scientists is an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers, and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues all over the world.
We are very concerned with recent developments regarding the arbitrary imprisonment of Dr. Sebnem Korur Fincanci.
Sebnem Korur Fincanci, President of Turkey’s Medical Association, is an internationally recognized forensic physician, anti-torture expert, and human rights champion. Fincanci has conducted anti-torture work for more than 30 years and documented violations of human rights in Turkey. She was also part of the Academic for Peace movement. Because of that, she was forced out of her position as the head of Istanbul University’s Forensic Medical Department.
Dr. Fincanci was arrested on October 27th, 2022, on charges of spreading terrorist propaganda. The arrest came after Fincanci participated in a media broadcast on the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Turkish Army against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Northern Iraq. In the broadcast, she called for an independent investigation into the event due to international law mandates. State organs interpreted this as terrorist propaganda and dismissed her from the post of president of the Turkish Medical Association.
We believe that Dr. Fincanci’s detention is part of a mounting crackdown on human rights in Turkey, including the independent Turkish Medical Association. We urge the Turkish government to enforce the rule of law and immediately terminate Fincanci’s unlawful imprisonment.
Thank you for your attention to this serious matter. We will be closely following developments in this case.
Sincerely,
Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich, Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer
Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
Cc:
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Omer Faruk Gergerliogu
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Human Rights Activists
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