HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• Conditions in Patnos L Type very bad, says IHD Van Branch co-chair 

  İHD Van Branch co-chair Emine Keskin said that they saw very bad conditions in Patnos L Type.
• Şenyaşar family continues their struggle for justice on day 434 

  The Şenyaşar family continues their struggle for justice on day 434.
• Ill prisoner Abdullah Ece dies in Izmir Buca Kırıklar Closed Prison 

  Ill prisoner Abdullah Ece died in Izmir Buca Kırıklar Closed Prison.
• Turkey second worst country in Europe for LGBT+s rights, says ILGA 

  Turkey has ranked 48th out of 49 countries in the "Rainbow Index" of the European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association (ILGA).
• Lawyers bring family visit ban imposed on Öcalan to Constitutional Court 

  Lawyers of Asrın Law Office brought the family visit ban imposed on Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan to the Constitutional Court.
• Human smugglers ally with soldiers in Van to get refugees across the border 

  Despite the walls built on the border, watchtowers, outposts and police stations, hundreds of refugees cross into Turkey every day. With the cooperation of Turkish forces and human smugglers.
• At least 44 migrants die when their boat capsized off the West Sahara coast 

  According to the NGO Caminando Fronteras, at least 44 migrants died on Sunday after their boat capsized off the Sahrawi coast.
• Justice demanded for Mehmetcan Ayşin in Amed 

  Mehmetcan Ayşin disappeared in state custody 28 years ago. In front of the human rights memorial in Amed, relatives and IHD members drew attention to his fate and demanded punishment for the perpetrators.
• Judge imposes new 6-month lawyer visit ban on Abdullah Öcalan 

  There has been no direct news from Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan since 25 March 2021. It has now been learned that he has been punished with a new 6-month lawyer visit ban.
• Seriously ill prisoner Sıddık Güler is left to die, says his family 

  A seriously ill prisoner, 82-year-old Sıddık Güler, is left to die, says his family, adding that he was able to come to the open visit by holding on to the walls.
• Seven prisoners in Kilis L Type jail on hunger strike to protest violation of rights 

  The hunger strike launched by seven prisoners in Kilis L Type Prison to protest arbitrary practices and violations of rights by the prison administration continues.
• Relatives of prisoners detained in Istanbul 

  In Turkey, relatives are fighting for the lives of seriously ill prisoners. In Istanbul, a "justice vigil" was again attacked by the police, and two women were detained by the use of force.
• IHD: What happened in Dersim is a genocide 

  Noting that what happened in Dersim was a genocide, the IHD stated that a 'Truth Commission for Dersim' should be established.
• HDP calls for international action as more prisoners lose their lives in Turkey 

  HDP calls on the international community, the CPT, other relevant organs of the Council of Europe and other human rights organizations, to take action against torture and inhumane conditions in Turkish prisons before even more people lose their lives.
• Ill prisoner in Ahlat T Type Closed Prison threatened with death for saying "I am Kurdish" 

  Naif İşçi, an ill prisoner in Ahlat T Type Closed Prison, was threatened with death for saying "I am Kurd".
• Prisoners in Islahiye T Type Prison continue their hunger strike to protest violation of rights 

  Prisoners in Islahiye T Type Prison have entered their 27th day on hunger strike. They are protesting the rights violations they have been subjected to.
• KHRN publishes its 2021 report on human rights violations in Rojhilat 

  According to the KHRN report, a total of 202 activists, women and young people lost their lives for political, security, economic and social reasons in Rojhilat (East Kurdistan) last year.
• Human Rights Association: There are 1,517 ill prisoners in jail 

  The Prisons Commission of the Human Rights Association (IHD) published its updated list of ill prisoners in Istanbul.
• Families protesting for prisoners on death fast detained 

  Nine members of the prisoners' families’ organization TAYAD have been detained in Ankara while drawing attention to the fate of political prisoners Sibel Balaç and Gökhan Yıldırım who are on death fast.
• Lawyer Yıldız: All resources available should be used in order to expose violation of rights 

  Lawyer Destina Yıldız explained the ways that prisoners and their families should resort to in order for the violations of rights to be reflected outside, and said that when an effective investigation is not carried out, violations are covered up.
• NGOs expose increase in number of women executed in Iran  

  It has been reported that there has been a strong increase of 25 percent in executions in Iran in 2021. In particular, there is a significant increase in the number of women executed.
• IBAHRI condemns the sentencing of Osman Kavala to life-long imprisonment 

  Growing reactions against the sentencing of Osman Kavala, who was charged with ‘attempting to overthrow the government by force’ in relation to the Gezi Park protests.
• Hıdır Sabur: We must raise our voice to expose violations of rights in prison 

  Hıdır Sabur, the term spokesperson of the Solidarity with Prisoners Initiative, said that many prisoners' families are afraid to speak up because of the oppression, and stressed that the torture of prisoners has increased and they need to be heard.
• Amnesty International says conviction of Osman Kavala a devastating blow for human rights 

  Amnesty International’s Europe Director said that "Gezi verdict deals a devastating blow not only to Osman Kavala, his co-defendants and their families, but to everyone who believes in justice and human rights activism in Turkey and beyond."
• Court says the officer who ran over 5-year-old child ‘cannot be attributed negligence’ 

  The criminal court of first instance handed down its detailed judgment in the trial of the police officer who had run over Efe Tektekin with an armored vehicle in Diyarbakır and was acquitted by court.