Reacting to news that environmental activist Esra Işık has been convicted of “resisting a public official to prevent them from performing their duty” and “insulting a public official” for taking part in a peaceful protest against an urgent expropriation decision that is paving the way for a project to expand a coal mine in south-western Türkiye, Esther Major, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for Europe, said:
“Today’s decision is a devastating blow for Esra Işık and for those engaged in the long struggle to stave off eviction and protect rural settlements and farmland from an expansion of mining activities. It is also a deeply disappointing outcome for those fighting to end the criminalization of environmental human rights defenders by Turkish authorities.
“It is unconscionable that Esra Işık has been convicted and could face imprisonment, simply for defending her local environment.
Esther Major, Amnesty International
“It is unconscionable that Esra Işık has been convicted and could be facing imprisonment if her conviction is upheld on appeal, simply for defending her community and the local environment.
“Authorities in Türkiye must stop misusing the criminal justice system to crack down on dissent and instead protect the right to protest.”
Background
Esra Işık is a prominent figure in the campaign against the expansion of coal mining activities in Akbelen Forest in Muğla, south-western Türkiye, which are intended to feed nearby power plants resulting in deforestation and the loss of local livelihoods.
Esra Işık was taken into custody on 30 March 2026 and detained for 42 days for joining a peaceful protest against an urgent expropriation decision impacting over 600 parcels of land in the Akbelen Forest area. She was charged with “resisting a public official to prevent them from performing their duty” and “insulting a public official.”
On 6 July at the fourth hearing in her trial, she was found guilty of “resisting a public official to prevent them from performing their duty” and “insulting a public official”. She was sentenced to two years and one month in prison for “resisting a public official” and to a fine of 44,200 TL (830 Euro) for “insulting a public official”.
The court ruled to defer the announcement of the verdict for the latter charge for five years. Esra Işık will be at liberty pending the appeal against her conviction.
For more information or to arrange an interview contact Stefan Simanowitz [email protected] or [email protected]
Also see – Türkiye: Environmental defender on trial: Esra Işık – Amnesty International