Our story
The Individual Choice Initiative (ICI) is a Türkiye-based consumer advocacy group established in 2023 with the mission to protect individuals' lifestyle freedoms. By advocating for the right of individuals to choose their own lifestyle, ICI aims to create an environment of freedom free from state interference. To this end, we focus on areas such as consumer freedom, innovation, and harm reduction in tobacco use, working to develop policies that protect consumer interests. We believe that a society where individuals are free to make their own choices forms the foundation of true democracy.
Our organization emerged in response to the increasing restrictions on individual freedoms and lifestyle choices in Türkiye. Initially focusing on alcohol policies, our initiative quickly evolved into one of the most influential advocacy campaigns in the country. Today, we provide legal support for policies concerning alcohol and tobacco, among others, raise public awareness, and aim to create a global impact through international collaborations to ensure that individuals can freely determine their lifestyle choices.
Our team
İSRAFİL ÖZKAN
co-founder
As the Director of the Freedom Research Association, Özkan has made significant contributions to Turkish civil society for over 10 years, implementing numerous projects that have closely impacted public opinion in Türkiye throughout his career. He is also the co-founder of the Individual Choice Initiative.
ÇAĞIN TAN EROĞLU
Co-founder
Eroğlu is a graduate of Bilkent University Faculty of Law. He serves as a Program Manager at the International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY) and is a member of Generation Democracy (GenDem), the youth organization of the International Republican Institute. Eroğlu is pursuing a master’s degree in Philosophy at Bilkent University, is a Young Voices Europe Fellow, and writes columns for Yeni Arayış.
selİN KÜÇÜKORUÇ
Communications Officer
küçükoruç graduated from Bilkent University's Department of Communication and Design (COMD) in 2024 with a thesis titled "Dare to Share: How Anti-Disinformation Policies Affect Online News Sharing in Türkiye." She is currently a PhD candidate in Political Science at Bilkent University.
ahmet öztopkara
community manager
Öztopkara, who is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in the Department of Philosophy at Middle East Technical University, is a board member of the 3H Movement
RukİYE TURAN
community manager
TURAN IS A LAWYER, MEDIATOR, AND AN ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBER OF FREEDOM RESEARCH ASSOCIATION.
Our vision & mission
Our vision is to create a Türkiye where individuals can freely make lifestyle choices, and these freedoms are protected from state interference; our mission is to defend these freedoms, develop policies that safeguard them, and raise public awareness through effective efforts.
We are moving forward with determination to build a society where freedom and individual choices are respected.
ICI in numbers
500k+
total engagement
3
Active projects
200+
total participants
150+
national and international media coverage
Our partners
ADVISORY COUNCIL
NAZLICAN KANMAZ
consumer choıce center
NAZLICAN KANMAZ has worked for non-profit organizations in Turkey, Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands. She is experienced in political consulting, media research, and brand strategy for creative agencies. She is a certified Council of Europe trainer & facilitator. She holds a master’s degree in Philosophy of the Social Sciences at the London School of Economics (LSE).
MEDENİ SUNGUR
kuest medıa
Medeni Sungur has been part of Turkish civil society and international human rights circles for over 15 years. He cofounded 3H, Turkey's first liberal youth movement, and the Freedom Research Association, the country's first liberal think tank. He is currently building DIGIMAR Institute and Kuest Media, Turkey’s first explanatory journalism platform with a focus on bringing the most important social and democratic issues to the rising generation.
Constantinos Saravakos
kefİM
Constantinos Saravakos IS a PhD CANDIDATE of INTERNATIONAL and European Studies at the UNIVERSITY of Macedonia. HIS MAIN research INTERESTS INCLUDE REGULATION, POLITICAL economy (poverty, INEQUALITY and prosperITy) and POLITICAL PARTIES (democracy, POPULISM and POLITICAL BEHAVIOUR).
He holds a M.A. in POLITICAL SCIENCE and SOCIOLOGY (Hons) and a B.Sc. in PHILOSOPHY and HISTORY of SCIENCE from UNIVERSITY of Athens. He has also RECEIVED a M.Sc. IN ApplIed EconomIcs and ADMINISTRATION from Panteion University. He is member of Greek POLITICAL SCIENCE AssocIation and a member of the EconomIc Chamber of Greece.