Lawyer urges government to press Turkey on detained Carleton student

The lawyer for a Carleton University PhD student in solitary confinement in Turkey says he hopes the Canadian government will raisethe matterwith Turkish authorities.

"Canada does have the right to make inquiries or ask questions of Turkish authorities in a situation like this,where it appears that there may be fundamental human rights at risk," said Paul Champ, Cihan Erdal's lawyer.

Erdal, a 32-year-old PhD candidate at Carleton and a permanent resident ofCanada, was taken to a detention centrein the Turkish capital, Ankara, in late September. Erdal was inTurkey in August to check on his parents during the pandemic, and stayeda few more weeks to conduct his doctoral field research.

He was among dozens of people across Turkey named in warrants and arrested on Sept. 25.

Cihanisa loved member of the Ottawa community and ... we'd love to have him home.- Paul Champ, Cihan Erdal's lawyer

"Many of thepeople in prison with him right now are elected officials mayors, parliamentariansand so Canada can reach out in those kind of circumstances and ask questions and [raise] concerns about the reasons for his arrest," said Champ.

Allegations against the detainees relate to a letter written in 2014, whichcalled on the Turkish government to step in to help the Kurdish town of Kobani, in Syria, at the height of ISIS attacks.The Turkish government accuses the signatories of supporting demonstrations that ensued in 2014, as people filled the streets to protest the Turkish military's inaction.

• Read more about Erdal's situation here

Champ said he doesn't know for sure what Global Affairs Canada has done in Erdal's case, if anything.

"Even when it's a Canadian citizen abroad, I don't always know exactly what the Canadian officials are doing," he said. "It's very sensitive obviously, because it deals with sovereignty of another nation, and Canada doesn't want to overstep and make the situation worse."

In September, Global Affairs Canada told CBC it was aware of Erdal's detention, and said "Canadian officials continue to monitor this case closely."

In an email response to CBCThursday, Global Affairs said it "has raised concerns with Turkish authorities,"but did not expand on exactly what officials have done.

WATCH |Federal government could make inquiries, says lawyer:

How Canada may be able to help a Carleton PhD student detained in Turkey

4 years ago

Duration 1:06

Paul Champ, lawyer for Carleton PhD candidate Cihan Erdal, says the federal government could make inquiries about why Erdal has been detained in Turkey.

Erdal 'doing much better,' says partner

"It's very difficult. You feel like you're outside of the prison, but you're somehow in a different prison," said Erdal's partnermer Ongun, a permanent resident living in Ottawa. Ongun hasn't been able to see or speak to his partner since he wasdetained.

"It's day 27 behind bars," said Ongunon Wednesday, explaining that Erdal is waiting for a trial without formal charges being presented to him.

WATCH | Professors, activists are calling for the release of Carleton student:

Ottawa community calls for release of Carleton student detained in Turkey

4 years ago

Duration 1:33

Professors and activists are calling for the release of Cihan Erdal, a Carleton doctoral candidate who was detained in Turkey last month. CBC News spoke with Erdals partner, Omer Ongun.

Ongunsaid Erdal's parents were able to visit him this week, and brought back news that he's doing better than earlier.He said Erdal was able to receive newspapers and a few books.

"He's doing much better mentally, but of course the conditions are challenging."

Hesaid Erdal is "receiving a lot of respect" from guards at the detention centre."He said they're calling him 'professor,'" Ongun said.

Champ said the next step is getting Canadian authorities or the ambassador in Ankara to get involved.

"Hopefully [get them] just asking questions andreinforcing with Turkish authorities that Cihanis a loved member of the Ottawa community and that we'd like him home," said Champ.