Human Rights

Latest News

• Lawyers’ report on İmralı isolation 

  Asrın Law Office issued a report on isolation and pointed out that they are unlawfully prevented from meeting with Öcalan.
• Öcalan's lawyers to release a report on isolation 

  Lawyers for Öcalan have applied for the 673rd time for a meeting with the Kurdish leader, and they will release a report on his isolation on July 27.
• Turkey jails two more human rights defenders 

  Of the four human rights defenders who were recently detained and released 12 days later, Nalan Erkem and İlknur Üstün have been jailed by the Turkish state.
• AI: Re-arrest of four human rights defenders a cruel step 

  Amnesty International’s Director for Europe said: “With the re-arrest of four human rights defenders released on bail, Turkey has underlined its growing reputation as an indiscriminate jailer of civil society activists and a stranger to the rule of law.”
• Hunger strike in Stuttgart in solidarity with Nuriye and Semih 

  In German city Stuttgart a four-day hunger strike has been launche for educators Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça who are now jailed due to the hunger strike they launched in Ankara demanding their jobs back after dismissal with a statutory decree.
• Arrest warrant for human rights defenders released 3 days ago 

  Arrest warrant has been issued for 4 human rights defenders who had been taken into custody in Istanbul and released after appearing at court 12 days after detention.
• Amnesty International protest in front of Turkish Embassy 

  Dozens of members of Amnesty International gathered in front of the Turkish Embassy in Paris to protest against the arrest of human rights defenders in Turkey.
• Human rights activist slams the government’s prison uniform plans 

  A prominent human rights activist slammed Turkish government's plans to force inmates to wear prison uniform.
• Peace Mothers: Isolation on Öcalan means war 

  Peace Mothers stated that the continuous denial of communication with Öcalan will open the way to an all-out war and said: "Erdoğan and the AKP will be buried under all this. We want to hear from our leader now."
• ECHR verdict expected for Nuriye and Semih 

  Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça have been on a hunger strike for 132 days and their lawyer Selçuk Kozağaçlı said they are expecting the verdict on their appeal for Nuriye and Semih at the ECHR to come out this week.
• Turkey jails 6 of the human rights defenders detained in Istanbul 

  6 out of the 10 human rights defenders who had been detained in Büyükada have been arrested.
• Human rights defenders detained in Istanbul referred to court 

  8 human rights defenders and two trainers who were taken into custody in Büyükada, Istanbul on 5 July have been referred to Çağlayan Courthouse.
• UN calls on Turkey to release human rights defenders 

  A group of United Nations experts has today called on the Government of Turkey to immediately release nine human rights defenders and two foreign trainers who are being questioned over alleged membership of a terrorist organization.
• Demirtaş: We are continuing our dignified struggle in prisons 

  HDP Co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş wrote a letter to the UEL Chairman Tiny Kox regarding their nomination of Demirtaş for the 2017 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize.
• “Öcalan and 3 PKK prisoners are missing” 

  Lawyer Cengiz Çiçek said it is not enough to define the practice imposed upon Kurdish People’s Leader Öcalan as “isolation” and said: “We consider Öcalan to be ‘missing’.”
• Prisoners in Ermenek go on hunger strike 

  Political prisoners in Ermenek Type M Closed Prison have gone on a hunger strike because of the mistreatment by the prison administration and the undignified practices imposed upon them.
• “Turkey detained human rights defenders to hide the violations” 

  Turkey's Human Rights Association deputy secretary general in charge of organisation stressed that the Turkish government detained human rights activists to hide the violations in the country.
• Öcalan’s isolation on the Parliament’s agenda 

  Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) took the isolation imposed upon Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan to the Parliament’s agenda.
• AI condemns the detention of human rights defenders 

  Amnesty International condemned the detention of their Director for Turkey along with seven other human rights defenders and two trainers, and called for their immediate and unconditional release.
• Saturday Mothers: We demand justice for everyone 

  In the 640th week of the Saturday Mother's vigil, they asked about the fate of Huseyin Ertas who disappeared on the 8 July 1995 under custody and gave the message "We demand justice for everyone."
• Torture has become culture in Turkey 

  TİHV Diyarbakır Representative Barış Yavuz stated that torture has become culture in Turkey, and is instated by the state.
• Swedish Peace Council: Öcalan must be released 

  The Swedish Peace Council, umbrella organization of 11 peace associations, called for the release of Öcalan and political prisoners and delisting the PKK as a terrorist organization.
• Over 20 political prisoners relocated from Batman to Elazığ 

  More than 20 political prisoners have been relocated from Batman to Elazığ.
• Nuriye Gülmen in critical condition: Can’t even hold a pen 

  Lawyer Engin Gökoğlu said Gülmen and Özakça’s conditions are worsening by the minute and remarked that Gülmen has reached a point where she can’t even hold a pen.
• No news from Öcalan, concerns grow 

  For almost one year now, there have been no news on the condition of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan and three prisoners with him. They have been under absolute isolation. Lawyer Eren Keskin said there are serious concerns.