Free Cihan Erdal

Cihan Erdal is a Canadian permanent resident, queer youth activist, doctoral student, and coordinator of the Centre for Urban Youth Research at Carleton University in Ottawa. He was unjustly detained in Turkey on unfounded charges in September 2020, after being swept up in a mass arrest of politicians, activists, and academics in Istanbul.

Our first campaign in the fall of 2020 drew thousands of supporters and put Cihan’s case on Ottawa’s agenda. Now, there are new actions the Canadian government can take to help bring Cihan safely home. Send a message to Canadian officials now.

Latest updates on Cihan’s case

There have been important developments in Cihan’s case. In October 2021, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) recognized Cihan’s detention as arbitrary and unlawful. The working group found numerous violations of Cihan’s human rights as protected by international law and is calling for Cihan’s immediate and unconditional release. Cihan has also applied to become a Canadian citizen.

Cihan’s campaign welcomes the Canadian government’s efforts to date. Now, we must keep building support for Cihan’s case by sending a message to Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, Sean Fraser, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and other Canadian and Turkish officials. The Canadian government must prioritize Cihan’s citizenship application and must also call on Turkey to respect the UNWGAD opinion and immediately drop all charges.

Cihan’s ongoing fight for justice

Cihan’s ordeal has prevented him from pursuing his research and building his promising academic career in Canada. He was jailed for nine months, including time in solitary confinement, before being conditionally released in June 2021.

However, restrictive bail conditions limit his freedom, and he cannot leave the country. Cihan continues to defend himself against unfounded charges based on two Facebook posts he shared in 2014 and his former membership in the People’s Democratic Party (HDP), Turkey’s third-largest political party. He could still face more prison time.

Help bring Cihan home

The Free Cihan Erdal campaign has widespread Canadian and international backing. Cihan has the support of his university and the broader academic community, his union, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, and many other groups and organizations around the world.

Thousands of people have taken up Cihan’s cause, and it’s made a difference. Add your voice today. Our continuing support and solidarity will help free Cihan and bring him safely home to his partner, his studies, and his chosen home country of Canada.

You can stay up to date on Cihan’s situation at freecihanerdal.ca and on Twitter at @FreeCihanErdal.

Help keep building support for Cihan’s case by sending a message to Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, Sean Fraser, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and other Canadian and Turkish officials.

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I am writing to draw your urgent attention to the case of Cihan Erdal, a Canadian permanent resident who was conditionally released on June 15, 2021, after nine months of detention in Turkey on unfounded charges that he continues to fight. I am deeply concerned about the ongoing bail conditions Cihan faces in Turkey. Today, he must report to the police station twice a week and is not allowed to travel outside of Turkey.

Cihan is a member of Ontario’s academic community as a doctoral student and coordinator of the Centre for Urban Youth Research at Carleton University in Ottawa. These restrictions on Cihan’s freedom are preventing him from pursuing his PhD, conducting his field research, and reuniting with his loved ones in Ottawa.

In September 2021, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) recognized Cihan’s detention as arbitrary and unlawful. The UNWGAD found numerous violations of Cihan’s human rights as protected by international law and is urging Turkey to “…unconditionally release Mr. Erdal immediately and accord him an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations, in accordance with international law.” However, the Turkish court refuses to alter Cihan’s bail conditions and has postponed the trial hearings.

I welcome the efforts the Canadian government has taken on Cihan’s behalf to date. To secure his release and ensure his safe return to Canada, I am asking the Canadian government to:
•	regularly and at senior levels call on Turkey to respect the UNWGAD opinion and immediately drop all charges against Cihan Erdal; and
•	prioritize Cihan Erdal’s citizenship application at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

I trust the Canadian government will take immediate steps to work on Cihan’s behalf.

For more details on Cihan’s situation, you can visit freecihanerdal.ca.

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This campaign is hosted by CUPE. We will protect your privacy, and keep you informed about this campaign and others.