Date Type Case No Country TUR 3/2014 27/03/2014 Turkey JAL Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply Freedom of expression; Freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; Human rights defenders; Alleged restrictions on the right to freedom of expression and opinion in the context of political debate and electoral processes in Turkey. According to the information received, on 20 March 2014, authorities blocked access to microblogging through Twitter and threatened to block access to other social media sites and Youtube, allegedly due to the publication of information criticizing the Government, in the context of Municipal elections which took place on 30 March. Reportedly, despite a temporary injunction decision on 26 March by an administrative court in Ankara ordering the telecommunication authorities to restore access to Twitter, the website remained blocked. It is also alleged that national legislation, namely Law No. 5651 (2007) and Law 6518 (2014), imposes undue restrictions to internet access and the right to freedom of expression and opinion. 23/04/2014 USA 6/2014 Mercenaries; 27/03/2014 United States of AL America Alleged risk of violation of the right to a remedy. According to the information received, Mr. Taha Yaseen Arraq Rashid, Mr. Asa’ad Hamza Hanfoosh Al-Zuba’e and Mr. Suhail Najim Abdullah Al Shimari, were prevented from travelling to the U.S. to participate in their lawsuit against a private military contractor concerning alleged torture and ill-treatment at Abu Ghraib in Iraq. The three men were all granted visas to travel to the U.S. on a flight scheduled for 15 March 2013, but were informed right before departure that the U.S. authorities would not permit them to board the flight. The three men risked the dismissal of their case if they were unable to appear for deposition in the U.S. The case was subsequently dismissed in June 2013 on the basis that the court did not have jurisdiction as the alleged abuses occurred overseas. Concerns are raised at the risk of violation of the right to a remedy due to the three men being prohibited from boarding their flight to participate in their lawsuit and at the subsequent dismissal of their case. Further questions are raised concerning the court decision on which the case dismissal was based. An earlier communication dated 31 May 2013 was transmitted to the U.S. Government to which no response was received. A/HRC/27/72 25