Mark O'Doherty

The Legacy of President Erdogan's Dictatorship - A Study of Democratic Deficit, Human Rights Abuses and Civil Unrest in the Republic of Turkey Mark O'Doherty

The British founder of the organisation known as the White Helmets has died in Istanbul on 10. November 2019. A spokesman for the White Helmets confirmed on Monday afternoon the death of James Le Mesurier (48) and said further details were yet to be established. Turkish media reports said he was found with fractures to his head and legs and appeared to have fallen from a balcony. Friends said Le Mesurier had been operating for years under significant pressure from orchestrated attacks on his reputation and the stress of running a high-profile NGO. The group, made up of more than 3,000 volunteers, operates inside opposition-held areas in Syria and has been credited with saving the lives of thousands of people. White Helmet workers rush to the scenes of bombings to try to rescue the wounded from the rubble. They have also helped to document alleged war crimes. Hence it is very important that the White Helmets receive continued support, protection, funding and acknowledgment in the international community.