HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• 75-year-old prisoner Özkahraman dies in prison 

  75-year-old Takiyettin Özkahraman, who was held hostage in Patnos L Type Prison, has died.
• Italian authorities allow rescue boat Open Arms to disembark 

  For weeks, the authorities of Malta and Italy did not offer any concrete solution to the humanitarian emergency that the boat was going through.
• Sweden wants to deport a 10-year old Kurdish girl to Turkey 

  Buket was abandoned by her mother when she was a baby. Her father went to Sweden and, after his asylum application was rejected, placed the child in the care of an aunt living in Stockholm. Since then he has disappeared.
• UN calls on Turkey to respect international law in Syria 

  Violations and abuses rife in areas under Turkish-affiliated armed groups in Syria.
• Hunger striker's mother: We won't give up our rights 

  Zübeyde Timur, mother of Botan Timur, one of the prisoners on hunger strike in Van, said: "We are not afraid and we will not give up our rights. I call on all mothers for support."
• Villagers in intensive care have been thrown from army helicopter 

  Osman Şiban is one of the two people who were detained and thrown from helicopters during a military operation in Van.
• Political prisoners in Amed mistreated during transfer 

  More than thirty political prisoners, among them Kurdish politicians Mehmet Aslan and Musa Farisoğulları, have been mistreated during their transfer to another prison in Amed.
• Political prisoners in Van go on hunger strike 

  The prisoners who started a hunger strike will continue their actions until all their demands are met.
• UN say war crimes carried out in Afrin and Serêkaniyê 

  The UN Syrian Commission of Inquiry said that the FSA carries out war crimes under Turkish control, including abductions, disappearances, gender-based violence in Afrin and Serêkaniyê.
• Court of Cassation upholds prison sentences for 14 lawyers 

  The Turkish Court of Cassation has upheld the prison sentences for 14 leftist lawyers. The court reversed the verdict against Ebru Timtik who died in August after months of death fast demanding a fair trial.
• ECtHR rules rights of writer Zarakolu violated 

  The ECtHR has concluded that the right to liberty and security and freedom of expression of writer Ragıp Zarakolu have been violated. The writer has been standing trial as part of Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) Istanbul Main Case.
• EUTCC criticises ECtHR president for accepting Turkish doctorate 

  The EUTCC strongly dissociated itself from the fact that the President of the European Court of Human Rights received an honorary doctorate from Turkey, a member state that largely violates human rights.
• Political prisoner from Rojhilat sentenced to death penalty 

  ​​​​​​​A Kurdish political prisoner from Urmia who was arrested in 2019 by the Iranian security forces, has been sentenced to death by the Islamic Republic judiciary.
• Lawyer Marhan says concern growing for prisoners in Covid times 

  Prisons have been pointed out as one of the places most at risk after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
• Condition of ill prisoners Tikit and Özçelik worsening 

  IHD demanded the release of ill prisoners in Turkish jails.
• UN: Culture of impunity for human rights violations marks Turkey 

  UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances says most of its reccomendations were ignored by Turkey where a culture of impunity prevails.
• MED TUHAD-FED: They release prisoners when on the verge of death 

  Although the Forensic Medicine Institute (ATK) repeatedly issues reports on the health status of the prisoners, saying that “they cannot remain in jail", the Ministry of Justice, the Constitutional Court and local courts ignore them.
• Prisoners' health at risk in Patnos jail 

  ÖHD, TUHAY-DER and Van Bar Association prepared a report on Patnos L Type Prison. It was stated that the prisoners' health rights were violated.
• Lawyer Şaradı says Didem Akman's condition worsening 

  Lawyer Seda Şaradı visited her client Didem Akman in hospital. Akman has been on death fast for 203 days demanding to be transferred to Sincan Prison. Her condition is getting worse.
• AI: Malta's illegal tactics mar another year of suffering 

  “Malta is stooping to ever more despicable and illegal tactics to shirk their responsibilities to people in need," said Elisa De Pieri, Regional Researcher at Amnesty International.
• Roma children receive no proper education 

  According to the statement by the Turkish Ministry of National Education, the academic year will begin on September 21 for primary, secondary and high schools.
• 'We live in a land of genocide' 

  Sixteen seasonal workers from Mardin Mazıdağı were attacked by employers in Sakarya. Sakarya Governor's Office said in a statement denied that there are racist attacks in Turkey as always.
• Turkish government supports exploitation of seasonal workers 

  The Secretary General of the agricultural and forestry workers' union Tarım Orkam-Sen, sharply criticizes the AKP regime. The government is on the side of the capital and against any organization of the workers in the question of seasonal work, he says.
• Guterres calls for closure of Libya migrant detention centers 

  “I renew my appeal to the Libyan authorities... to fulfill their obligations under international law and to close all detention centers, in close coordination with United Nations entities,” UN Secretary-General said.
• Lawyer on day 214 of death fast released from custody 

  Lawyer Aytaç Ünsal, who has been on death fast for 214 days with the demand for a fair trial, has been released for the time being after the Turkish Court of Cassation has accepted a complaint against his imprisonment.