HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• 'Those carrying out torture feel they are protected by the state' 

  Despite the promise of 'zero tolerance' for torture made by the AKP government, the cases of torture in custody and prisons are increasing day by day.
• Access to health denied to sick prisoner Türkmen 

  The Human Rights Association exposed the fact that prisoner Sinan Türkmen has been denied access to health.
• Women's prison stormed, prisoner taken away by special task force 

  In the Bakirköy women's prison in Istanbul, a ward was stormed and a prisoner taken away and handed over to the police.
• Jailed co-mayors of the HDP held in isolation 

  Hakkari Municipality co-mayor Cihan Karaman and Gever co-mayor Irfan Sarı, who were referred to Elazığ High Security Prison No. 2 on 5 November, have been kept in solitary cells since then.
• HRW: Movements of Maxmur Camp residents restricted 

  “It is shocking that authorities have not put an end to restricting the movement rights of some of Makhmour’s refugees", said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch.
• Dozens of prisoners on hunger strike in Osmaniye and Maraş 

  In the prisons of Osmaniye and Maraş, dozens of prisoners are on hunger strike due to inhumane prison conditions.
• HRW: Civilians abused by Turkish-backed groups in ‘safe zones’ 

  Human Rights Watch denounced summary executions, blocked returns by Turkish-backed armed groups in northeast Syria.
• Amnesty International said 143 protesters were killed in Iran 

  Amnesty International said in a statement that "the intentional lethal use of force by Iranian security forces that has resulted in the killings of at least 143 protesters since demonstrations broke out on 15 November.
• Rescue ship stranded off Italian coast 

  The rescue ship Open Arms is stranded off the Italian island of Sicily with 62 African migrants on board
• Dirbesiye for Kurdish teacher arrested in Iran 

  The Iranian regime arrested Kurdish female teacher Zahra Mohamadi on the grounds of giving education in the Kurdish language.
• Prisoners in Kandıra prison not given books 

  A new excuse has been found not to give the books sent or brought to the prisoners in Kandira F Type Prison No. 1. The prison administration requires that prisoners have money in their accounts.
• Women’s Council of NE Syria presents report on Turkish war crimes 

  The United Nations should establish a commission of inquiry and investigate the violations of the Turkish army and its members in Northern and Eastern Syria, said the Women’s Council of Northern and Eastern Syria.
• Hunger strike in Osmaniye reached day 10 

  Political prisoners in Osmaniye No. 2 Closed Prison have been on hunger strike for 10 days against degrading, racist and arbitrary harassment practices.
• Report: There are 3,000 children in Turkish prisons 

  Children Rights Violation Report has been issued to mark World Children's Rights Day. The report said that 3,000 children are in prison in Turkey, 743 with their mothers. 
• Prisoners in Osmaniye on hunger strike since 12 November 

  Prisoners in Osmaniye No. 2 T-Type Closed Prison have been on hunger strike for 8 days.
• HDK to host symposium on Migration, Refugees and Discrimination 

  The Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) will organise a Symposium on Migration, Refugees and Discrimination in Şişli, Istanbul.
• 227 civilians killed in occupied Afrin, including 32 children 

  At least 227 civilians have been killed and 638 others wounded in Turkish occupied Afrin during the past 1,5 years.
• IHD reported 14,000 human rights violations in Izmir 

  The Human Rights Association (IHD) has revealed that between March and August 2019, there were at least 14,000 violations of rights in the Aegean region and surrounding cities.
• AI:Turkey arrests hundreds critics of military offensive in Syria 

  “The Turkish authorities must stop gagging opinions they don’t like and end the ongoing crackdown. All charges and prosecutions of those targeted for peaceful expression of their opposition to Turkey’s military operations should be immediately dropped.”
• Council of Europe: Camps in Greece ready to "explode" 

  Dunja Mijatović said the situation is "explosive" and highlighted the unhygienic conditions in which migrants are kept, in overcrowded camps.
• Disciplinary penalties for 57 prisoners protesting for Rojava 

  57 political prisoners detained in İzmir’s Şakran high-security prison were placed in solitary confinement because they protested against the Turkish invasion of northern Syria.
• Mustafa Koçak: 47 kilos and fasting for 90 days demanding justice 

  Political prisoner Mustafa Koçak has been on hunger strike for 90 days demanding a fair trial. On the 30th day of action he went on deathfast . His mother Zeynep Koçak said, "My son now is 37 kilos."
• Ex-U.N. investigator: Erdogan should be charged with war crimes 

  “An investigation should be opened into him and he should be charged with war crimes. He should not be allowed to get away with this scot free,” said a former member of the U.N. Commission of Inquiry on Syria.
• UN: Conflict must be stopped to prevent humanitarian crisis 

  Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Ursula Mueller, told the Security Council that since the beginning of military operations by Turkey in north-east Syria, “civilian’ casualties and damage to civilian infrastracture have been reported.
• Turkey’s war crimes to be submitted to concerned authorities 

  The self-administration of northern and eastern Syria said they hold the Turkish regime and its President Erdogan for the war crimes committed by his mercenaries against civilians.