2017
As the state of emergency was repeatedly extended for three consecutive months, the right to assembly and demonstration was suspended, with everyone anxiously awaiting the emergency decrees expected each following day.
This marked the epitome of a time when civil society was backed into a corner, dedicating all its efforts to preserving its fundamental rights and very existence. At a moment when civic engagement was deeply needed, civil society was forced into its shell, just as the constitutional amendment that would reshape Turkey's system of government was headed for a referendum.
We commemorated the 100th birthday of Nobel laureate Heinrich Böll with a determined spirit, echoing his words, "Meddling is the only way to stay relevant."
In the turbulent history of Turkish politics, where the pendulum has swung between libertarianism and authoritarianism, it had not firmly landed on the side of authoritarianism, not only in practice but also enshrined in law.
Yet, there had to be a way to break free from the scepticism and fear gripped society, as depicted in The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum…
1 – The inclusiveness of the Justice March, initiated by opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu to protest against the violations and the antidemocratic and oppressive course of the State of Emergency period, offered hope at the time. 2 – Osman Kavala, who was systematically targeted following the Gezi protests, was detained in Gaziantep on 18 October 2017. He remains in prison despite an ECHR judgment in his favour. The drawing by Murat Başol is from the 2020 hearing. 3 – Die Welt correspondent Deniz Yücel, a German citizen, was arrested in 2017 and imprisoned for a year. This photo was taken on the day he regained his freedom. However, this situation further strained the already tense relations between Germany, the EU, and Turkey. 4 – In 2017, women from around the world united in a mass movement that began at the heart of show business. They spoke out with “Me Too” against harassment, rape, discrimination and violence.