The International Journalists Association (IJA) has called for the immediate enforcement of European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) rulings following a rally in Strasbourg on June 24, 2026. Over 5,000 expatriates, purge victims, and human rights advocates gathered outside the Council of Europe headquarters to urge Europe's main human rights bodies to move beyond criticism and take concrete action on binding judgments that remain unenforced.

The event, organized by the Peaceful Actions Platform and supported by 17 civil society organizations, marked the fifth annual Justice Gathering under the theme "One World, One Justice." Delegates from the IJA joined European lawmakers to demand action on the continued imprisonment of journalists and opposition figures in Turkey, despite binding ECtHR rulings ordering their release.

Speakers at the rally emphasized that the Court's judgments are binding, not advisory. Mustafa Kilic, IJA Director of International Affairs, stated that the presence of thousands of advocates demonstrates the international journalism community's refusal to remain silent while colleagues face arbitrary detention. He warned that ignoring binding court rulings undermines press freedom and the rule of law in Europe.

Participants delivered a formal letter to the Council of Europe, urging the institution to use its supervisory mechanisms to defend the authority of the ECtHR and ensure the prompt implementation of its rulings. The IJA highlighted cases of journalists imprisoned or exiled in connection with their work as part of a broader pattern of human rights violations documented by the Court but left unaddressed.

European lawmakers expressed frustration with institutional inaction. German MEP Michael Bloss stated that a binding judgment left unenforced is a right denied. British Liberal Democrat MP James MacCleary urged the Council of Europe not to "look away" and called on European governments not to trade away human rights for short-term convenience. Jan Paternotte, parliamentary group leader of the Dutch Democrats 66 party, emphasized that the ECtHR's rulings must be honored.

The IJA's participation aligned with its mandate to support independent journalism and protect media professionals facing persecution. Kilic noted that journalists, civil society figures like Osman Kavala, and politicians like Selahattin Demirtaş remain imprisoned despite clear rulings in their favor. He pledged the IJA's continued support for those facing persecution and its commitment to pressing for accountability from European institutions.