HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• Three prisoners on hunger strike in Osmaniye prison 

  In Osmaniye, three political prisoners have been on hunger strike for a week to demand medical treatment. One of them has had shrapnel in his leg for four years, the injury he sustained in the Nusaybin resistance.
• Actions in Istanbul and Ankara for ill prisoners Gömi and Yakşi 

  The actions demanding the release of ill prisoners in Istanbul and Ankara were dedicated this week to ill prisoners Kemal Gömi and Yusuf Yakşi who are in serious condition.
• The situation in Turkish prisons 

  With the coronavirus pandemic, the situation in prisons in Turkey has dramatically deteriorated. Preventive measures are inadequate, and rules of distance cannot be observed.
• Refugees continue to arrive in Van 

  The search for refugees in the sinking boat on 27 June in Lake Van continues. Only 16 bodies have been reached so far.
• One of the 43 missing students of Ayotzinapa identified 

  Remains of one of the Ayotzinapa missing students identified.
• Jailed baby gets a name: Hope 

  The IHD demands the release of Eylem Oyunlu and Makbule Özbek from the women's prison in Amed. Peace activist Özbek is 72 years old. Oyunlu was arrested shortly after the birth of her daughter Omedya, who is now three weeks old.
• 72-year-old Peace Mother Özbek to stay in prison 

  The demand by lawyers to release 72-year-old Peace Mother Makbule Özbek, who suffers from chronic diseases, was rejected.
• Four political prisoners infected with coronavirus 

  Four political prisoners in Van have been found to be infected with coronavirus. In Osmaniye, three prisoners from the Nusaybin trial went on hunger strike demanding to be granted medical treatment.
• “Turkey’s draft law on bars undermines legal profession” 

  Draft law reduces leading bar associations’ authority, leads to creation of rival groups.
• Ünsal: The fight against injustice is the task of us all 

  Aytaç Ünsal, a lawyer imprisoned in Turkey, has been on hunger strike for 157 days to demand a fair trial. ANF spoke to his wife, Didem Baydar Ünsal. Despite everything, she is full of hope and calls for protests.
• Community leader killed in Colombia 

  Police in Huila (Colombia) announced the killing of community leader Gentil Pasos in Algeciras municipality which brings to 150 the number of activists killed in the country this 2020.
• Many ill prisoners are on the threshold of death, says TUHAY-DER 

  EGE TUHAY-DER co-chair Ahmet Ertaş pointed out that the violations in prisons of the Aegean region have increased. He added that the prisoners whose treatment rights have been seized, are on the threshold of death.
• Prisoners in Van disclose their demands 

  The prisoners condemned the discriminatory enforcement law and demanded the sentence execution to be postponed for ill prisoners.
• IHD and relatives of the disappeared pay tribute to Vedat Aydın 

  Relatives of the disappeared and the IHD commemorate Vedat Aydın, the HEP president murdered by unknown people and pointed out that the killer was the State.
• Conditions of prisoners Güler and Bülbül worsening 

  The Human Rights Association and Freedom for Ill Prisoners Initiative held press conferences to in Izmiri and Ankara to demand the release of ill detainees.
• Zeynab Jalalian transferred to Kerman 

  Kurdish activist Zeynab Jalalian, who is imprisoned in Iran and is ill with Covid-19, has reportedly been transferred to a prison in the province of Kerman in the southeast of the country.
• 'Ill prisoners left to die', says lawyer 

  Ergin Aktaş, has no arms and suffers from many diseases, and is left to die in prison, say lawyers.
• Torturers will face justice sooner or later 

  IHD Amed Branch Anti-Torture Commission member, lawyer Yakup Güven confirmed that dogs were used as torture weapons in recent house raids. The lawyer stated that they started a legal process about that.
• Ill prisoner Ekim Polat's mother: My son not given his medicines 

  The mother of ill prisoner Ekim Polat said that her son is not receiving the medicines he needs and therefore his life is in danger.
• Amnesty activists in Turkey sentenced to prison 

  A court in Istanbul on Friday sentenced four Turkish human rights activists of Amnesty International to prison terms. Peter Steudtner from Berlin was acquitted.
• Five more prisoners in Urfa to join the indefinite hunger strike 

  In Urfa, five other prisoners will join the hunger strike against repression and detention conditions.
• Lawyer Timtik's health worsening on 183rd day on death fast  

  Attorney Yaprak Türkmen pointed out that her colleague Ebru Timtik’s health, has worsened. Timtik had been on death fast for 183 days demanding a fair trial and is just 41 kilos.
• HDP: The government must implement a proper refugee policy 

  HDP urged the government to immediately implement a proper refugee policy.
• HDP calls on EU and UN to monitor situation in Turkish prisons  

  Feleknas Uca and Hişyar Özsoy, HDP Foreign Affairs co-spokespersons issued a written statement to highlight the case of ill prisoners. 
• Lawyers demand justice for colleagues on death fast 

  "Our friends are melting before our eyes," said lawyers demanding justice for their colleagues, Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal, who are on death fast.