Salman graduated from the Department of City and Regional Planning at Middle East Technical University in 1981. She practiced her profession at various private institutions between 1981 and 1984. Salman lived in the United Kingdom between 1984 and 1986. She attended lectures at the Department of Town Economics at London South Bank University. After returning to Turkey in 1986, Salman briefly worked at a private firm as an urban planner. She then worked for the Delegation of Turkey of the European Union between 1987 and 2000. During this time, Salman did voluntary work for the “Turkey Democracy Council” working group of the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects in 1996 and continued her work within UCTEA. Between 1996 and 2000, she took part in efforts of UCTEA, Turkish Medical Association and IPS Communication Foundation to come up with an “alternative communication network” and contributed to Bianet’s establishment. Salman was a member of the boards of directors of the Human Rights Association between 1998 and 2004. Since 2005, Salman has served as the general coordinator of the Human Rights Joint Platform (IHOP), formed by human rights organisations.