Under the slogan ‘Justice for All in Turkey’, citizens, civil society representatives, and human rights defenders will gather this Wednesday in Strasbourg for the 5th March for Justice.
Its goal is to draw the attention of the Council of Europe to ensure the full and effective implementation of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), including landmark resolutions in the cases of Osman Kavala, Selahattin Demirtaş, Can Atalay, Yalçınkaya, and Yasak.
The 5th March for Justice, as indicated by the Peaceful Actions platform in a statement, ‘also aims to draw attention to the ongoing deterioration of democratic standards in Turkey: the erosion of judicial independence, the arbitrary detention of opposition figures and individuals perceived by the authorities as linked to the Hizmet movement, the prosecution of journalists, and the politically motivated dismissal of democratically elected municipal officials, including the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.’
‘This year’s slogan also reflects our concern,’ the organizers add, ‘for all critical voices and sectors of society that continue to face repression, regardless of their political orientation, ethnic background, or beliefs. We express our solidarity with all victims of injustice and authoritarian policies.’
Every year, more than 5,000 participants gather in Strasbourg and more than 45,000 people follow the event live online. The March for Justice has established itself as one of the most visible civil society initiatives in defense of the rule of law and human rights in Turkey.