EGC in Turkey

[Javaness2]

I just noticed this on the BGA website, but of a surprise to see the Congress awarded to somebody at an EGM in January. Probably a nice surprise though.

At an EGM yesterday the EGF formally ratified Turkey as the hosts for the 2026 EGC.
The event will be 25th July to 8th August, at Ankara Hacettepe University, Tunçalp Özgen Congress and Cultural Center.
Ankara is home to Türkiye’s first Go club (1988) and the founding location of the Türkiye Go Association (1995), which still operates its headquarters in the city. The university offers an official, academic-credit Go course for students.
As usual full details will appear in due course on the EGF calendar.

[RobertJasiek]

Has the human rights situation significantly changed in Turkey during the last few years?

[Javaness2]

I suppose that it remains superior to Russia. One measure from 2023 https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/huma ... ?tab=table places it 8 points higher, not exactly a stellar performance. Are you considering a boycott on the grounds of its human rights record or are you simply worried about being abducted by a gang of terrorists / police?

[RobertJasiek]

If things do not change much, I do not attend the EGC in Turkey because I am afraid of being imprisoned for no just cause. One can only guess the probability but even at 1:1,000,000 it is by far too risky for my taste.

(JFTR, the Turkish go players' playing skills have impressed me.)

[Javaness2]

Are you interested to hear about Go players who were abused at the hands of the German police?