Rights Are Not For Negotiation, Says Top Turkish Official

The head of a leading human rights organization in Turkey has issued a stark warning, stating the country is living through one of its worst periods in recent history. Dr. Metin Bakkalcı, President of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV), made the statement in a public call for change. He argued that human rights must be a core foundation of policy. "Human rights cannot be a subject of consensus or negotiation," Bakkalcı said. He stressed that a new approach is urgently needed. "We must adopt an approach that treats human rights as a fundamental element," he added.