On 10 March 2017, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Raad al-Hussein has published a report, which is biased, unprofessional and based on incorrect data, predominantly regarding counter terrorism operations in southeast Turkey.
 
Turkey maintains a transparent approach with regard to the measures taken after the terrorist coup attempt of 15th July 2016, as well as the measures taken within the context of fight against terrorism which per se constitutes a grave human rights violation. Turkey also continues uninterrupted flow of information and dialogue with all its international partners.

Despite the constructive cooperation we have sustained with the OHCHR and related UN mechanisms with this understanding, this so-called report has been published by solely relying on allegations of ill-intentioned circles. Groundless allegations in the report which are fully in line with the propaganda of terrorist organizations are unacceptable.

The fact that the report was drafted even without ensuring the necessary coordination with other relevant UN bodies and that it ignored the comprehensive information previously communicated to OHCHR and other human rights mechanisms by our country, forms not only a methodological error in itself, but also constitutes a clear violation of the impartiality and objectivity criteria that UN mandate holders are obliged to strictly observe. It is unacceptable that the Office of the UN Human Rights Commissioner concludes a “report” by employing working methods of the NGOs and without ensuring effective coordination with the relevant state as well as with other UN bodies.

It has been officially communicated to the Office of the High Commissioner that the “report” drafted in this manner is rejected.

Since March 2016, High Commissioner Zeid has been repeatedly invited to our country, for a visit including the provinces in southeast Turkey. Had the High Commissioner positively replied to our invitation and visited our country, he would have been personally able to observe that the claims on the report do not reflect the truth.

Turkey is open for visits of human rights mechanisms. Since November 2015, in line with the standing procedures and practices, at least six delegations from various mechanisms that function in this field, including those from the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and the OSCE visited Turkey to observe the said region, as well.

In a period while facing with threats and attacks of several terrorist organizations, Turkey decisively continues its policies on the protection of human rights and further enhancement of existing standards, despite such ill-intentioned attempts.