 STRATEGIC LITIGATIONTLSP uses strategic litigation as a tool to strengthen human rights protection in Turkey and to improve access to justice at a time when institutional safeguards are under significant strain. We aim to advance human rights standards by supporting lawyers, human rights defenders and NGOs in bringing effective cases before domestic courts, the Turkish Constitutional Court, the European Court of Human Rights and UN monitoring mechanisms. |  IMPLEMENTATION MONITORING & ADVOCACYTLSP raises awareness on systemic human rights violations in Turkey, advocating for effective remedies for those whose rights have been affected and Turkey’s full compliance with its human rights obligations under international and regional treaties. We provide analysis to regional and international monitoring mechanisms, engaging in dialogue with the Council of Europe, the European Union and UN bodies. We foster strategic collaboration among civil society actors and international organisations |  RESEARCHOur work focuses on issues identified through our ongoing litigation and collaboration with advocates and focuses on patterns such as the capture of democratic institutions, shrinking civic space, the misuse of criminal and counter-terrorism laws, violations of fair trial guarantees, entrenched impunity, the non-implementation of ECtHR judgments, and the targeting of human rights defenders, minority rights advocates and other critical voices. |  DIALOGUE & EXCHANGEThrough knowledge exchange and the organisation of seminars, workshops and meetings, we create collaborative spaces where human rights lawyers and civil society groups can come together to learn, reflect and develop effective legal strategies. Much of this work takes place through co-learning on cases, where joint drafting, shared discussion and collective problem-solving naturally emerge. |  "ALLIES FOR DEMOCRACY?"TLSP team with partners during joint roundtable "Allies for Democracy? Civil Society and Opposition in EU-Türkiye Relations", June 2025, Brussels/Belgium |
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 MEETING WITH THE SECRETARY GENERALTLSP team with partners during the joint advocacy mission to the Council of Europe, meeting with the Secretary General, January 2025, Strasbourg/France |
We support challenging systemic human rights violations linked to democratic backsliding and state capture in Turkey over the past decade—ranging from concerns around judicial independence and shrinking civic space to the arbitrary use of counter-terrorism laws and the targeting of critical voices. We work with litigators, human rights defenders, civil society and international organisations, offering our legal expertise, strategic support, collaborative spaces and international linkage to advance strategic human rights litigation, ensure effective remedies for those whose rights have been violated, and reinforce engagement with regional and international human rights mechanisms.
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TLSP was founded in 2018 and is hosted by the School of Law of Middlesex University.
"Strategic litigation support addressing Turkey’s rule of law, human rights, and democracy crisis"
The Turkey Litigation Support Project (TLSP) is a collaborative and independent initiative that brings together academics, human rights lawyers and researchers to strengthen legal accountability and address the deepening rule of law, human rights and democracy crisis in Turkey.
Prof. Phillip Leach
Project co-supervisor
Dr. Saniye Karakas
Senior Legal Consultant
Róisín Pillay
Project co-supervisor
Dr. Beril Onder
Project Lawyer
Helen Duffy
Former project co-supervisor
Nina Keese
Project Lawyer
Ayse Bingol Demir
Project Director
Thousands of individuals in Türkiye are serving aggravated life sentences under a legal regime that excludes any possibility of conditional release or sentence review. These prisoners - convicted under laws concerning “State security”, “constitutional order”, “national defence”, or “terrorism” - face lifelong imprisonment without access to a functioning, reviewable, and non-discriminatory mechanism, regardless of the time served or any change in their individual circumstances.
Six months after the elections – Turkey’s role on the international arena
TLSP Director AyÅŸe Bingöl Demir participating in the Falling Walls Science Summit 2023, Roundtable "Six months after the elections – Turkey’s role on the international arena", November 2023, Berlin/Germany
Türkiye: Avukatlık mesleğine yönelik saldırılar kabul edilemez
56 International Lawyers and Human Rights Organisations Condemn Crackdown on Istanbul Bar Association’s Leadership and Call for Action
56 uluslararası hukuk ve insan hakları kurumu, İstanbul Barosu yönetimine yönelik müdahaleleri kınadı ve acil harekete geçilmesi çağrısında bulundu
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