Kurma received her bachelor’s degree from the Department of Political Science at Boğaziçi University. She continued her postgraduate studies in urban planning at METU. She worked as a tour guide and was engaged in film and documentary making and translation. Beginning from the mid-90s, she worked in civil organising and democratisation and peace initiatives in Turkey and abroad. Kurma contributed to studies by various organisations, municipalities and universities on rights and freedoms, civil society and related subjects. She currently serves as the general coordinator of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly, which she joined more than fifteen years ago.