Europa Nostra stands in solidarity and supports the appeal by Europa Nostra Türkiye for the immediate release of Dr Mahir Polat

On behalf of all members of Europa Nostra and its heritage hub in Athens, we express our solidarity with our friends and colleagues in Türkiye who are dedicated to preserving our shared heritage and values.

We fully support the appeal of Europa Nostra Türkiye for the immediate release of Dr. Mahir Polat, an active advocate for heritage and a valued member of our Europa Nostra family. Dr. Polat is in urgent need of medical care, we therefore endorse the call for his immediate release on medical and humanitarian grounds and for legal proceedings to continue without the imposition of pre-trial detention.

We believe in the vital role of heritage champions for ensuring a better life for citizens and their communities, in Türkiye and elsewhere in Europe.

Jointly signed by
Hermann Parzinger, Executive President of Europa Nostra
Lydia Carras, Leader of the Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Athens

 

📢 Solidarity for Cultural Heritage, Democracy, and Justice
As Europa Nostra Türkiye, a civil society advocate for cultural heritage, we believe that protecting cultural heritage as a human right is only possible by defending first and foremost democracy on the basis of… pic.twitter.com/iM8OGXGlpx

— europanostraTURKIYE (@TReuropanostra) April 2, 2025