The first hearing in the trial of Turkish environmental activist Esra Işık is scheduled to begin on April 27, with the defendant remaining in pretrial detention ahead of the proceedings.
Işık, a 26-year-old activist from Muğla in western Turkey, was arrested on March 30 after participating in a peaceful protest against a government-backed coal mining project that requires the removal of olive groves near her family’s home. The project stems from a 2019 state decision to expropriate land for energy infrastructure in the region.
A court ordered her continued detention, citing concerns that she might attempt to influence court-appointed experts visiting the contested land as part of the expropriation process. Authorities argued her presence could undue pressure on officials, a justification that legal observers say lacks basis in Turkish or international law regarding pretrial detention.
The prosecutor has charged Işık with “insulting” and “resisting the orders of a public official,” offenses that carry a potential sentence of up to seven years in prison if convicted.
Two others who publicly criticized her detention — Başaran Aksu, a union representative from Maden-İş, and Doğukan Akan, a trainee lawyer — were briefly detained earlier in April and are under investigation for social media posts deemed by authorities to spread “misleading information.” They face possible charges related to online speech.
Işık’s case has drawn attention due to Turkey’s role as a co-host of the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), scheduled for November 2026. As a co-host, Turkey is expected to uphold standards for civil society participation, including the rights of environmental defenders to engage peacefully in climate-related discourse.
Legal analysts note that the detention of activists for peaceful protest, particularly in the lead-up to an international climate summit hosted by the state, raises questions about Turkey’s compliance with its obligations under international human rights frameworks and the expectations associated with COP31 hosting duties.
The April 27 hearing will be the first opportunity for the court to review the legality of Işık’s continued detention and the validity of the charges brought against her.
