Brabant said that Eser and her colleagues, including Amnesty Turkey chairman Taner Kılıç (who was arrested a month prior to Eser and nine other Amnesty members, known as the “Istanbul 10”) were the subject of “political persecution.”

On October 4 a Turkish prosecutor filed an indictment calling for jail terms of up to 15 years the detained activists.

“We demand their unconditional and immediate release,” said Brabant.

Celebrities have joined in the call for the release of Eser and the other activists.