Turkey on the Edge

A personal account from inside the Turkish pro-democracy movement. While Turkey steadily turns into an oppressive one-man rule, several human rights defenders courageously stand up for civil liberties and true democracy. In the words of filmmaker Imre Azem: ‘To rise above the dark clouds, we need two things: truth and courage.’

After the failed coup attempt in July 2016, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a state of emergency which has turned into a instrument of enormous oppression. In sweeping purges, ten of thousands of civil servants, academics, journalists, members of Parliament, judges and others have been fired from their jobs or put in jail, often without charge or trial. Turkey on the Edge follows several key players in the resistance against the worsening political situation in the country.

We follow journalists, academics and others who face increasing danger, as they are targeted by the Erdogan regime for being terrorist sympathisers. In an environment of oppression and fear, fuelled by nationalism and misinformation, they stick together. When a referendum is organized to grant even more powers to president Erdogan, tensions reach a boiling point.

Read more about activist Fatih Polat.

Turkey on the Edge has been selected for the Activist competition.