RABİA ÇETİN
Court orders closure of migration monitoring association in Turkey
The Bakırköy 15th Civil Court of First Instance ordered the closure of the Migration Monitoring Association (GÖÇİZDER), which advocates for the rights of forcibly displaced communities and promotes social solidarity among them. The decision was reached during the seventh hearing of the closure case against the organization.
During the proceedings, both the association's lawyer, Ahmet Baran Çelik, and prosecutor Yavuzhan Kocaman were present. The court also noted that it had received an expert report analyzing materials stored in eight sacks, as requested from the Istanbul 26th High Criminal Court during a previous hearing.
Defense emphasizes lack of legal basis for closure
In his final defense statement, Çelik argued that the case lacked sufficient legal grounds for closing the association, stating that GÖÇİZDER's activities were entirely lawful. He claimed that the charges were based on personal allegations and misinterpreted documents.
“The case against the association hinges on accusations of membership in a criminal organization and propaganda charges against some of its former and current board members at the Istanbul 26th High Criminal Court. All charges attributed to the association itself have collapsed, and those on trial have been acquitted,” said Çelik.
Financial activities labeled as criminalized
Çelik also addressed the financial allegations in the indictment, emphasizing that all monetary transactions were legal and aligned with the association’s mission to assist migration victims.
“Monetary issues highlighted in the case are all lawful financial transfers,” he said, adding, “Even receipts for legal payments related to judicial processes were used to create unfounded allegations, criminalizing individuals and events to fabricate a case.”
He further noted that the association’s publications were misinterpreted, with certain phrases taken out of context and linked to terrorism. Terms such as "local forces," "blockade," and "martyr," which appear in the publications, were reportedly cited as evidence in the indictment, despite their original context being related to the experiences of displaced communities.
Court's decision
Following the defense, the court dismissed a related case against Songül Köse due to lack of legal standing but ruled in favor of the closure of GÖÇİZDER. The court ordered the association’s dissolution.
GÖÇİZDER, which receives support from the European Union, focuses on addressing the root causes of forced migration and alleviating the suffering of displaced individuals. Despite its advocacy efforts, the association has faced increasing scrutiny, with its activities and communications subjected to accusations of illegality in the highly politicized context of Turkey’s judicial system.
