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Türkiye

https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/

August 2024

Authorities impose and later lift Instagram ban without official explanation

The government-controlled Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) blocked Instagram on 2 August without an official explanation or a court order, violating users’ rights to freedom of expression and access to information. Approximately 50 million of Türkiye's 85 million citizens use Instagram. The reason for the ban is unclear, but the move followed accusations from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's communications director, who claimed Meta, Instagram's parent company, had removed condolence messages about Ismail Haniyeh, the former Hamas political leader, killed in Iran. Some officials attributed the ban to Instagram’s failure to remove alleged criminal content. Türkiye's internet law grants authorities wide-ranging powers to block websites, and the country has previously restricted access to platforms like Twitter, YouTube, and Wikipedia, with the European Court of Human Rights and Türkiye’s Constitutional Court ruling such actions violated free expression. Instagram access was restored on 10 August after an unspecified agreement with Meta. The Transportation and Infrastructure Minister, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, stated that Instagram assured compliance with government requests on criminal activity and user censorship.

Sources: Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, Human Rights Watch, Hurriyet, Euronews

July 2024

Anti-Syrian riots spread, leading to over 470 arrests

Riots erupted in Melikgazi and spread to other areas after Turkish authorities arrested a Syrian man for allegedly abusing a seven-year-old Syrian girl in Kayseri. Angered by the news, Turkish residents vandalized Syrian-owned shops, cars, and homes, demanding the expulsion of Syrians. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya condemned the actions, announcing the detention of over 470 individuals. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized the violence and xenophobia, blaming opposition parties for inciting it. The events led to retaliatory actions against Turkish troops in Syria, and to Türkiye closing several border crossings with Syria.  Türkiye, home to over 3.5 million Syrians since 2011 when the civil war started, has seen rising anti-refugee sentiment due to a severe economic crisis and high inflation. Similar riots occurred in 2021.

Sources: Dunya, Al Jazeera, Reuters

May 2024

Ruling AKP proposes ‘agents of influence’ legislation
Watch flag

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has proposed an amendment to Article 339 of the Penal Code, which could lead to imprisonment of up to seven years for those who research Turkish citizens, institutions, or foreigners in Türkiye for foreign interests, harming national security or political interests. This is expected to particularly impact journalists and researchers. The legislation is similar to Georgia's recently approved ‘foreign agents’ law. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called on the Turkish government to abandon the legislation, expressing strong concern that it would negatively impact freedom of the press and freedom of expression, as journalists working for foreign-funded media could be jailed under the proposed amendment.

Sources: Reporters without Borders, Turkish Minute (1), Turkish Minute (2), Balkan Insight, International IDEA

April 2024

May Day celebrations banned despite Constitutional Court’s ruling

The Istanbul Governor’s Office announced on 29 April that May Day demonstrations would not be allowed in Taksim Square, despite the Constitutional Court recently ruling that such a ban is unconstitutional. May Day demonstrations in Taksim Square have been forbidden in Istanbul since 2013, with all roads and public transport to the Square being blocked to prevent people from gathering. This prohibition has faced criticism for curtailing the right to peaceful assembly, prompting Turkish trade unions to challenge it in the Constitutional Court. In December 2023, the Constitutional Court ruled that the ban contravenes the Turkish constitution. The Istanbul Governor’s Office cited concerns for public safety as justification for upholding the ban. Opposition parties, civil society organizations, and labour unions urged adherence to the Constitutional Court's ruling. Rallies were organized despite the ban, and hundreds were detained.  Taksim Square, Istanbul’s main square, holds symbolic significance as the site where 34 demonstrators were killed during May Day protests in 1977. 

Sources: Duvar (1), Turkish Minute (1), Turkish Minute (2), Duvar (2), Amnesty International, Reuters, Al Jazeera

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Global ranking per category of democratic performance in 2023

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Representation
108/173
Rights
134/173
Rule of Law
145/173
Participation
137/173
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Basic Information

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Population Tooltip
85 042 736
System of government
Presidential system
Head of government
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (since 2014)
Head of government party
Justice and Development Party (AKP)
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
List Proportional Representation
Women in lower or single chamber
19.9%
Women in upper chamber
Not applicable
Last legislative election
2023
Effective number of political parties Tooltip
2.4
Head of state
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Selection process for head of state
Direct election (two-round majority)
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
28/01/2020
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
67.29%
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Human Rights Treaties

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State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
State Party
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
State Party
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
State Party
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
State Party
Convention on the Rights of the Child
State Party
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
State Party
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
No Action
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
State Party
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
State Party
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
State Party
Equal Remuneration Convention
State Party
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
State Party
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
State Party
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
State Party
Regional Treaties
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 4 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
Signatory
Protocol No. 6 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 7 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 12 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
Signatory
Protocol No. 13 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
in
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Performance by category over the last 6 months

Representation neutral Representation
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Representation neutral Rule of law
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Representation neutral Participation
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Global State of Democracy Indices

Hover over the trend lines to see the exact data points across the years

Explore the indices
Representation
Representation
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rights
Rights
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/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rule of Law
Rule of Law
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high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Participation
Participation
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4

Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time

Use the slider below to see how democratic performance has changed over time

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