The laureates
Description
A member of the Trade Union of Education Professionals, branch of the National Confederation of Civil Servants' Unions, she was dismissed in 2017 because of her political views. As part of the Turkish government’s policy of repressing opposition voices, she is also denied the right to travel, work and be elected. In protest, she organized with her sisters and brothers several public actions. Detained and prosecuted, she does not stop her activism. A member of the Human Rights Association since 2016, she also works for the Commission against Racism and Discrimination.
"The Marianne initiative has been a unique and important opportunity for me, because in Turkey we do not always have the possibility to criticize or express our opinions."
“In Turkey, thinking differently has become a sufficient reason for imprisonment.”
Interview de Nuray Şimşek – 20 mars 2024
Can you introduce yourself ?
I am Nuray Şimşek, a philosophy teacher from Turkey. I am a human rights defender and I have lived in France since the beginning of my participation in the Marianne Initiative.
Can you describe your work as a human rights advocate?
I have been fighting since I was a university student to defend students' rights and have pursued this in the professional world for workers' rights as a nurse and then a teacher. In 2017, I was laid off because of my political views and my investment in the Union of Education Professionals. This dismissal was justified by the fact that I was a person dangerous to the state and so I understood that it was because I worked for human rights and reported abuses. Following this, I focused on my work in the Istanbul branch of the human rights association, of which I am a member and an activist. I continued my fight by also engaging for refugees, workers, LGBTQ+ and prisoners. Within this association, I also worked in the commission to fight against racism and discrimination. So I am at the same time a victim, a witness and a person who fights against human rights.
Why did you decide to advocate for human rights?
In Turkey, oppression exists on all aspects: arbitrary detentions and arrests, mistreatment and torture in prison, racism, discrimination, pressure on journalists and political dissidents, and lack of freedom of thought and expression. It was impossible for me not to get involved in the field of human rights. I actively participated in demonstrations, activities and events but this was not enough and I wanted to make myself heard by the international community. The aftermath of the 2016 coup attempt helped motivate my commitment, as thousands were fired, declared terrorists, and suddenly arbitrarily arrested. Moreover, many human rights activists, journalists and political opponents are currently in prison.
How did the Marianne Initiative help you bring your project to life?
The program of the Marianne Initiative helped me a lot, especially in order to be heard internationally. For the first time in my life, I was able to say what was happening in my country and for the first time I felt like someone could hear me. It’s as if the commitment of my whole life made sense. It was no longer like crying out to the world while being in Turkey.
Which activities were most useful to you during the program ?
As part of the Marianne Initiative, I was able to meet and exchange with diplomats, journalists, politicians and other laureates. The training sessions were enriching, especially those on negotiation, leadership, and cybersecurity. I was able to learn how to set up a fundraiser. For me, the most striking visit was to the European Court of Human Rights, which I believe is a symbol of fair justice. In Turkey, a judicial system exists in theory, but is not trustworthy in practice.
What did you do after the program ended ?
I stayed in France because I married a Frenchman.
I am currently developing an activist project with two colleagues from the Initiative, Noura and Tatsiana. Indeed, before the program, we worked in similar fields. When I was working at the Human Rights Association in Istanbul, I realized reports of human rights violations in Turkish prisons, based on letters from prisoners sent from the prison. In addition, many of my relatives have been imprisoned and I myself have been detained several times. Tatsiana is fighting for her sister, and Noura lost her husband in prison. Our stories are similar.
This is what led us to found our association in France, aiming to defend the rights of political prisoners, because we are stronger together. It is called "Prisoners' Voice", and this voice was born from the program of the Marianne Initiative. We have now registered our association and are finalizing the last administrative difficulties. I hope we will succeed in helping the prisoners.
Would you like to add anything else ?
Yes, if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that there’s no point in talking if no one can hear you. In France, I was listened to and my commitment made sense. I would like to thank all the people who made the Marianne Initiative possible. It was essential that this program exist. Every year, new laureates, human rights defenders, join the program, exchange on their experiences and share their life in their country. Solidarity is the key word of this initiative.
