HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• Call for action for political prisoners on hunger strike for 26 days 

  As the hunger strike in Şakran Prison continues in its 26th day, Solidarity with Prisons Initiative Spokesperson Selma Altan issued an emergency call and emphasized that a delegation must visit the prison before a death occurs.
• UN report on the destruction and rights violations in North Kurdistan 

  The UN Human Rights Office on Friday published a report detailing allegations of massive destruction, killings and numerous other serious human rights violations committed between July 2015 and December 2016 in southeast Turkey.
• PKK and PAJK prisoners to launch a hunger strike 

  PKK and PAJK prisoners announced that they will launch a hunger strike with 5 day-long rotations to demand an end to the isolation of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, the human rights violations at prisons, and the destruction of villages.
• Hunger strike in Edirne Prison on day 14 

  The hunger strike launched by 6 inmates in Edirne Prison continues in its 14th day. Families of prisoners call for public sensitivity.
• Indefinite hunger strike of political prisoners in Şakran in its 23rd day 

  The irreversible and indefinite hunger strike launched in Şakran Prison demanding an end to the isolation of Öcalan and right violations in prisons continues in its 23rd day.
• Indefinite-irreversible hunger strike of PAJK/PKK prisoners on day 20 

  The indefinite-irreversible hunger strike of PAJK/PKK prisoners in İzmir's Şakran Prison is on its 20th day.
• CoE Secretary General warns Turkey on journalists and right violations 

  CoE Secretary General: “It is imperative for Turkey and Europe that the judicial safeguards for all those who have been dismissed or are in prison are based on the ECHR and on the case law of the European Court of Human Rights.”
• Hunger strike of political prisoners in Şakran on day 14 

  The indefinite-irreversible hunger strike started in Şakran Prison demanding an end to the isolation of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan and right violations in the prison has entered its 14th day.
• International İmralı Peace Delegation meets with CPT officials 

  International İmralı Peace Delegation has met with CPT officials in Strasbourg regarding the aggravated isolation of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan.
• BDP administrator tried in KCK case jailed with her 7 month old baby 

  Gülistan Diken Akbaba was on trial as part of the KCK operations and has been sent to prison with her 7 month old son Miraz when the sentence issued by a FETÖ judge was approved.
• HDP MP: Interior Minister has admitted the torture in Xerabê Bava 

  HDP MP Yıldırım stated that Turkish Minister Soylu has admitted the torture in Xerabê Bava and that he must be reported to the Hague.
• Political prisoners in Şakran on indefinite-irreversible hunger strike 

  18 political prisoners have started an indefinite-irreversible hunger strike in İzmir's Aliağa Şakran Prison against the increasing repression and human rights violations.
• IHD: Worst period for human rights in Turkey 

  IHD Co-chair Öztürk Türkdoğan: “We are experiencing the worst period for human rights. We are facing developments that never should have happened in a country that claims it’s democratic.”
• Footage of Turkish state savagery in Xeraba Bava village 

  Turkish state forces put the footage of the houses they burned in Nusaybin's Xeraba Bava (Koruköy) village on the internet.
• Öcalan’s lawyers call for increased struggle against the isolation 

  Asrın Law Office advocating Öcalan said they have been refused on 580 appeals for visitation and called for raising the democratic legal struggle against these anti-democratic practices.
• Syrian army almost in al-Bab 

  The Syrian army is 1,5 km away from the city of al-Bab.
• 93 political prisoners in Şakran go on indefinite alternate hunger strike 

  Prisoners in İzmir's Şakran Prison have started an indefinite alternate hunger strike today in protest at repression and right violations.
• Families demand to be given the body of BÖG fighter martyred in Rojava 

  BÖG fighter Muzaffer Kandemir lost his life in Rojava and his body has been kept in the border for the last 27 days. Kandemir, Akdeniz, Arpaçay and Güler families held a press conference and said, “Give us the bodies, end the cruelty.”
• Keskin: World Health Organization should investigate the Turkish prisons 

  IHD Co-chair Eren Keskin pointed out the increasingly severe condition of the sick arrestees in prisons and that they had no more opportunities for treatment under the State of Emergency, and called on the World Health Organisation to investigate.
• "Van Closed Prison has turned into a torture center" 

  Political prisoner held in Van Closed Prison Adem Er sent a letter and said that he has been battered by the guards constantly and that the Van Closed Prison has turned into a torture center.
• Inmates on hunger strike in Edirne Prison face provocation 

  Inmates on hunger strike in Edirne F Type Closed Prison since January 17 are facing provocations from the prison administration with raids, insults and swearwords.
• ECHR President: Isolation of Öcalan is a violation of his right 

  The ECHR President Guido Raimondi stated that the isolation of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan violates the European Convention on Human Rights.
• Inmates in İzmir Şakran Prison protest increasing right violations 

  Inmates in İzmir's Şakran T4 Closed Prison have started a protest against the increasing rights violations and pressures in jail.
• IHD: 47 ill prisoners died in Turkish jails in 2016 

  IHD Istanbul Branch Prisons Commission stated that 47 ill prisoners lost their lives in Turkish jails during 2016.
• ECtHR announces verdict in Ceylan Önkol case 

  The ECtHR ruled in favor of the Turkish state in the case of Ceylan Önkol who was killed with a mortar shell fired from an outpost in Amed countryside in 2009.