In Turkey, the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been waging a war against its own citizens, using the guise of counter-terrorism to silence dissent and crush peaceful opposition. The latest example of this brutal tactic is the detention of 15 teenage girls, aged 13 to 17, who will be forced to testify against their parents and older siblings in court.

These girls were rounded up by police in the early hours of May 7, under the orders of Istanbul's chief prosecutor, and held in detention for nearly 16 hours. During this time, they were subjected to psychological pressure, denied legal representation, and treated like criminals. The United Nations' Guidelines on Justice in Matters Involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime emphasize that children should be treated with respect and compassion, considering their age, maturity, and individual circumstances.

The detention and interrogation of these girls violated Turkey's own legal statutes, and it's a clear example of the government's disregard for human rights and the rule of law. The girls' families have been accused of involvement in "terror activities" for associating with Hizmet, a peaceful civil society movement that Erdogan has designated a terrorist organization.

The Turkish government's elastic interpretation of terrorism has led to arbitrary actions that compromise legal principles and individual freedoms. Under Erdogan's rule, tens of thousands of innocent people have been persecuted, fired from their jobs, jailed, and even tortured. The government has also kidnapped relatives of Fethullah Gulen, the inspiration for Hizmet, and jailed my father, a prominent critic of the government.

The detention of these 15 girls is part of a broader pattern of discrimination against Hizmet participants, which started after a failed coup attempt in Turkey in 2016. Despite uncertainty about the coup's organizers, Turkish authorities used it as a pretext to shut down 3,520 Hizmet entities and confiscate their assets, including 147 media organizations, 1,284 schools, 800 dormitories, 54 hospitals, and 1,125 foundations.

The Turkish government's actions are not only a violation of human rights but also a threat to the very fabric of society. By forcing children to testify against their families, the government is creating a climate of fear and mistrust, where people are afraid to express their opinions or associate with others who may be deemed enemies of the state.

The Unacceptable Price of Erdogan's Authoritarian Grip

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