The Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (HRFT) appeared in court on November 12th 2003 in an action which could result in the suspension from duty and expulsion of its board members. Both the organisation and the nine individual members of its board are being charged with offences under the Law of Foundations, particularly attempts to collect donations on the internet and the dissemination of reports about the human rights situation in Turkey to officials from international organisations. This is part of a widespread pattern of harassment of Human Rights Defenders by the Turkish authorities.
The HRFT was founded in 1990 in accordance with the Turkish Civil Code. Since its inception it has been subject to a number of prosecutions aimed at penalising the Foundation for its work. However this is the first time that the prosecution has aimed to depose all nine members of its executive board upon the formal request of the General Directorate of Foundations.
The current charges are, specifically: • That HRFT attempted to collect contributions via the internet; 
