Avaaz in jail!

Urgent: Turkey has just jailed Özlem, an Avaaz staffer, at a human rights workshop. Avaaz staffer Özlem was arrested in Turkey and is being held without charges -- let's free her! Turkey just arrested Özlem, an Avaaz staffer! She's just one person caught up in a crackdown on civil society, but to us she's so much more. If we make Özlem famous with a massive petition and media campaign, she'll be more trouble than she's worth for a government in political crisis. Add your name to the urgent petition and let's set her free: FREE ÖZLEM Dear friends, Turkey just arrested Avaaz staff member Özlem! Let's set her free. Özlem's being held without charges after attending a meeting of human rights defenders. To the Turkish government, she's just one person caught up in a crackdown on civil society.  But if we build a massive international petition and use the media to make Özlem famous, she'll be more trouble than she's worth for a government in political crisis.  Our petition will be delivered to the EU foreign minister next week ahead of a crucial meeting with Turkey -- so add your name urgently and let's set Özlem free: Click to free Özlem! Turkey's President Erdogan is arresting and firing thousands of people who don't agree with his government. Now Özlem's been caught up in the net, together with 9 other human rights defenders, but she isn't a valuable target. As Turkey heads into critical meetings with the EU over a trade deal next week, the last thing Erdogan needs is an international headache over someone he's probably never heard of. But to us, she means so much. She works at Avaaz because she shares so many of our values. For years she's worked so hard for a world where people can organise for peace, justice, and human rights without being sent to jail. She's brought hundreds of our campaigns alive for Turkish Avaazers. Now she's being held under threat of ridiculous armed terrorism charges! The closest Özlem has been to any arms is the tear gas and the batons used AGAINST her in the countless times that she's fought for justice. It's time we stand up for Özlem, and the others arrested with her, by shining our giant spotlight on her imprisonment. When a million sign, we'll deliver our call directly to the EU foreign minister ahead of next week's meeting to up the pressure -- let's set Özlem free:  Click to free Özlem! Our community has stood alongside human rights defenders in places from Saudi Arabia to Morocco, from Canada to Indonesia. It's at the very heart of what our movement's about. But now, one of our own is in trouble -- and depending on us to help. Let's come together as never before for Özlem and her friends. With hope,  Danny, Alex, Marigona, Luca, Emma and the rest of the Avaaz team More information:  Turkey detains 10 at human rights meeting, U.S., EU concerned (Reuters) https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-security-detentions-idUSKBN19R0E6 Turkey crackdown: Rights groups outraged by latest arrests (BBC) http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-40532742 Turkey must free jailed human rights defenders (Amnesty International)  https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2017/07/turkey-must-free-jailed-human-rights-defenders/ Rights defenders 'must not be silenced,' says UN office, urging Turkey to release activists (UN) http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=57134#.WWUqKNPyuqA

Avaaz is a 44-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making. ("Avaaz" means "voice" or "song" in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of the world; our team is spread across 18 countries on 6 continents and operates in 17 languages. Learn about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns here, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

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