HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• Maside Ocak: We will fight to get justice for the disappeared people 

  The Istanbul Saturday Mothers' sit-in has been taking place in Galatasaray Square for 1,000 weeks. Maside Ocak, sister of one of the disappeared, Hasan Ocak, said: “We will continue the fight until our relatives have graves and justice is served.”
• Saturday Mothers issue a call for the 1000th week of their action 

  The Saturday Mothers' struggle for justice for their relatives will enter its 1000th week on Saturday 25 May. The mothers called for carnations to be left at Galatasaray Square.
• 39 MPs from New Zealand support Satuday Mothers 

  39 members of parliament from New Zealand urged the Turkish authorities to allow the 1000th gathering of the Saturday Mothers, without posing any obstacles.
• Ankara massacre to be taken to the European Court of Human Rights 

  Following the dismissal of the lawsuit against Turkish authorities in connection with the Ankara massacre on 10 October 2015, lawyer Ilke Işık announced that she will now take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.
• Another death in prison  

  Ergin Akdoğan, who was in Tekirdağ No. 1 F Type Closed Prison, has died. He was in prison for 27 years.
• Application for release of Veysi Aktaş from Imralı rejected 

  The objection against the one-year postponement of the release of Veysi Aktaş from Imralı Prison was rejected.
• Ill prisoner Makbule Özertaken to Istanbul to get a new Forensic Medicine Institute report 

  Ill prisoner Makbule Özer was taken to Istanbul to get a Forensic Medicine Institute report.
• Emine Şenyaşar protests new case filed against her for allegedly ‘insulting a public official’ 

  Emine Şenyaşar protested the case filed against her for allegedly ‘insulting a public official’ with the words: "While those who committed crimes are walking freely outside, they bring me to trial."
• ISIG says 2,500 young workers have lost their lives in last 11 years 

  According to the report prepared by the Occupational Health and Safety Observatory on work accidents, at least 2,500 young workers have lost their lives in the last 11 years.
• Release of ill prisoner postponed for 4th time 

  The release of Naif Işçi, who was arrested at the age of 14 in Cizre, was postponed for the 4th time because he rejected showing "remorse". His mother Nebahat said: "What did my son do that he should show remorse?"
• Release of Ramazan Karataş postponed for 6 months 

  The release of Ramazan Karataş, who had been imprisoned for 30 years, was postponed for 6 months for the second time for arbitrary reasons by the Administration and Observation Board.
• Lawyers protest the verdict in Kobanê Trial: We will fight against the darkness 

  Legal organisations protested the verdicts in the Kobanê Trial and said, "We do not recognise these sentences and we will fight against the darkness."
• CDK-F calls for participation at demo against French repression 

  The CDK-F called on people to attend the demonstration to be held on Saturday in Paris to protest the policy of criminalization against Kurdish activists.
• Peace Mothers: We want justice for our children 

  Peace Mothers, who travelled from Istanbul to Ankara to meet with the Turkish Minister of Justice, reacted against the police prevention and said, "We mothers only want our children. We want justice."
• Health condition of ill prisoner Yıldız worsening 

  Alper Yıldız, son of ill prisoner Hatice Yıldız, pointed out that his mother's health problems had worsened and called for "an end to this unlawfulness. We want her to be released as soon as possible."
• Asrın Law Office applies once again to CPT in relation to Öcalan and the other 3 prisoners in Imralı 

  Asrın Law Office made a new application to the CPT in relation to Abdullah Öcalan, who has not been heard from for 38 months, and the other 3 prisoners in Imralı.
• Prisoners Tekin and Suncak released after spending 30 and 31 years in jail 

  Halis Tekin was released after 30 years in prison and Yılmaz Suncak, after 31.
• Political prisoner Hatice Arat released after18 years in jail 

  Political prisoner Hatice Arat was released after spending approximately 18 years in prison.
• 20-year-old political prisoner dies in prison 

  Another political prisoner lost his life in a prison of the Turkish state, where systematic rights violations and arbitrary inhumane practices are at their peak.
• Emine Şenyaşar calls on everyone to attend press statement on 24 May in front of Ministry of Justice 

  Speaking in the Turkish parliament, Emine Şenyaşar called on everyone to attend the press statement they will make in front of the Ministry of Justice on 24 May.
• ISIG says that at least 163 workers lost their lives in occupational homicides in April 

  ISIG reported that at least 163 workers, including 5 children, lost their lives in occupational homicides in April.
• Winners of Ayşenur Zarakolu Freedom of Thought and Expression Award announced  

  The winners of the Ayşenur Zarakolu Freedom of Thought and Expression Award were journalists Çiğdem Toker, Metin Cihan and Şano Ar Theater Art Group.
• Lawyer Binbir: Prisoners are not released by arbitrary decisions 

  Zeki Binbir, Co-spokesperson of the Prison Commission of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD), said that political prisoners who have been imprisoned for 30 years are not released due to arbitrary decisions.
• AI: Death of civilians in military strikes with Turkish drones in Somalia may amount to war crimes 

  “The Somali and Turkish governments must investigate these deadly strikes as a war crime, and put an end to reckless attacks on civilians,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa.
• ÖHD: Human rights violations in the prisons of Aegean region increasing 

  The ÖHD Izmir Branch Prison Commission published a report on human rights violations in the Aegean region's prisons. The report stressed that isolation was increasing.