Jon Rud, a member of the EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC) Refused Entry into Turkey

12 November 2008
Press Release: For immediate release

Jon Rud, a member of the EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC) Refused Entry into Turkey

Jon Rud is a Norwegian human rights lawyer, and a member of the EUTCC. He was formerly Chairman of the Norwegian Bar Human Rights Committee and of Amnesty International in Norway. On 7 November this year, he was refused entry into Turkey. He had been invited by the Working Group on Justice of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (of which he is also a member) to a seminar in Istanbul.

In 1999, Mr. Rud was declared an “unwanted person” by the Turkish Government, following various speeches and media appearances, which were seen to be “hostile” to Turkey. Before arriving in Turkey, there had been contacts with the Turkish Ministry of thee Interior and with two Turkish Ambassadors, who had examined his case. Based on these contacts, Mr. Rud was led to believe that he would be allowed entry. However, upon arrival at the airport in Istanbul, he was stopped and put back on the next returning plane to Europe. The Turkish police told him that he would never be permitted entry into Turkey, without giving any reason for this drastic decision.

The decision is a clear violation of human rights, and yet another confirmation that Turkey does not follow up with sincerity its stated intention to become a member of the European Union.

The EUTCC urges

-          the Turkish authorities to revoke its decision to ban Jon Rud from entry into Turkey,

-          the European Commission to bring this case to the attention of the Turkish authorities and insist that Turkey must comply with its promises to adhere to European human rights standards.

For further information please contact

Kariane Westrheim

Menneskerettighetenes plass 1

5007 Bergen, Norway

Tel. +47 976 42 088