HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• Turkish state continues harassment of families during funerals 

  No funeral vehicles were given to the guerrillas who were martyred in Adıyaman. The Turkish state forces also prevented the washing of bodies and the establishment of condolences tents.
• PACE rapporteurs call for the immediate release of Kavala 

  PACE rapporteurs call for the immediate release of Osman Kavala after Strasbourg Court decision.
• Concerns grow for ill prisoner Yılmaz 

  Yılmaz's daughter stated that the coronavirus pandemic increases health risks for her father. 
• Turkish state prevents families from performing burying rituals 

  The washing of two HPG guerrillas who fell martyr following clashes in the Adıyaman countryside last week was prevented by soldiers of the Turkish state. Only 5 people were allowed to attend the burial ceremony.
• IHD: Prisoners are fighting for life in prison 

  People who have just tweeted or expressed their opinions, as well as journalists, politicians, mayors, that is, thousands of people are in prison only because of their political views, said IHD executive Çevirmen.
• Report exposes violations in 72 Turkish prisons 

  The report stated that violations came from 72 different prisons, 35 of which are closed prisons. The names and information of prisoners were kept confidential.
• Ill prisoner Kaya is in intensive care 

  Sabri Kaya, a seriously ill prisoner held in Osmaniye No. 2 T Type Closed Prison, was finally taken into intensive care unit in Osmaniye State Hospital due to intestinal bleeding.
• Prisoners in Bolivia demand protection measures to face COVID-19 

  Bolivia has registered 2,831 positive cases and 122 deaths.
• Ill prisoner Kaya is in hospital again 

  In what is clearly a heavy harassment and violation of the right to life, ill prisoner Kaya was taken to hospital once again, after suffering intestinal bleeding in prison.
• ECtHR rejects request on Osman Kavala jailed in Turkey 

  Kavala has been behind bars since November 1, 2017, standing trial on charges of attempting to overthrow the government, based on accusations that he organized and funded nationwide protests in 2013’s Gezi protests against then-Prime Minister Erdogan.
• The odyssey of ill prisoner Sabri Kaya continues 

  The odyssey of ill prisoner Sabri Kaya continues: the man was sent back to prison after being told that there were no beds available in Adana hospital.
• Coronavirus spreading in Turkish prisons 

  There is no precise data on the spread of the coronavirus in Turkish prisons. Figures are only known from some prisons.
• Türkdoğan: Pople should stand against funeral and grave attacks 

  Öztürk Türkdoğan, co-chair of the Human Rights Association said attacks against cemevi and graves are signs of a mentality of hate towards Alevis and Kurds.
• IHD demands release of ill prisoners in weekly actions  

  Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the sit-in actions demanding the release of ill prisoners organised by the Human Rights Association are held on social media.
• IHD says prisoner Yılmaz is seriously ill and should be released 

  The Freedom for Ill Prisoners Initiative said that Ismail Yılmaz's life is in danger.
• HDK calls on Constitutional Court to fair rule on Execution Law 

  "In Turkey, the preparation of the law of execution was not conducted in a transparent manner, despite calls and warnings, and consequently the process ended with a discriminatory legislation," said HDK.
• Prisoners in Tarsus say rights violation is increasing 

  Political prisoners in Tarsus T Type 1 Closed Prison reported that violations of rights have increased.
• Ill prisoner Kaya taken to hospital again 

  Sabri Kaya, a seriously ill prisoner held in Osmaniye Prison, was hospitalized after his condition worsened.
• Six prisoners go on death fast in Turkey 

  Six political prisoners went on death fast in the Konya-Seydişehir prison in Turkey. "We can no longer bear the constant repression," Yilmaz Uçar told his to relatives over the phone.
• UNODC warns of increased risks to human trafficking victims 

  Measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus are exposing victims of human trafficking to further exploitation and limiting their access to essential services.
• Condition of prisoner suffering from cancer worsening 

  The situation of Mehmet Salih Filiz, a prisoner in Ödemiş suffering from cancer, has worsened. "Please hear my voice," said Filiz.
• IHD issues Turkey report on human right violations for 2019 

  IHD said that there were 440 violations of right to life, 447 torture and ill-treatment violations in 2019. IHD co-chair Öztürk Türkdoğan said that most of the violations were caused by the Kurdish problem.
• IHD issues report on rights violation in Izmir prisons 

  IHD reported that oppressive practices incompatible with human dignity have increased in prisons in the last 4 months.
• 84 social leaders killed in Colombia since the beginning of 2020 

  As the systematic killing of social leaders in Colombia continues, Guerrero’s death is the 84th in 2020. 
• IHD says government is responsible for ill prisoners 

  IHD members drew attention to the condition of ill prisoners. "They are left to die," said the IHD adding that "the state will be responsible for anything that could happen to them".