HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• Human rights defenders detained in Istanbul referred to court 

  8 human rights defenders and two trainers who were taken into custody in Büyükada, Istanbul on 5 July have been referred to Çağlayan Courthouse.
• UN calls on Turkey to release human rights defenders 

  A group of United Nations experts has today called on the Government of Turkey to immediately release nine human rights defenders and two foreign trainers who are being questioned over alleged membership of a terrorist organization.
• Demirtaş: We are continuing our dignified struggle in prisons 

  HDP Co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş wrote a letter to the UEL Chairman Tiny Kox regarding their nomination of Demirtaş for the 2017 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize.
• “Öcalan and 3 PKK prisoners are missing” 

  Lawyer Cengiz Çiçek said it is not enough to define the practice imposed upon Kurdish People’s Leader Öcalan as “isolation” and said: “We consider Öcalan to be ‘missing’.”
• Prisoners in Ermenek go on hunger strike 

  Political prisoners in Ermenek Type M Closed Prison have gone on a hunger strike because of the mistreatment by the prison administration and the undignified practices imposed upon them.
• “Turkey detained human rights defenders to hide the violations” 

  Turkey's Human Rights Association deputy secretary general in charge of organisation stressed that the Turkish government detained human rights activists to hide the violations in the country.
• Öcalan’s isolation on the Parliament’s agenda 

  Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) took the isolation imposed upon Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan to the Parliament’s agenda.
• AI condemns the detention of human rights defenders 

  Amnesty International condemned the detention of their Director for Turkey along with seven other human rights defenders and two trainers, and called for their immediate and unconditional release.
• Saturday Mothers: We demand justice for everyone 

  In the 640th week of the Saturday Mother's vigil, they asked about the fate of Huseyin Ertas who disappeared on the 8 July 1995 under custody and gave the message "We demand justice for everyone."
• Torture has become culture in Turkey 

  TİHV Diyarbakır Representative Barış Yavuz stated that torture has become culture in Turkey, and is instated by the state.
• Swedish Peace Council: Öcalan must be released 

  The Swedish Peace Council, umbrella organization of 11 peace associations, called for the release of Öcalan and political prisoners and delisting the PKK as a terrorist organization.
• Over 20 political prisoners relocated from Batman to Elazığ 

  More than 20 political prisoners have been relocated from Batman to Elazığ.
• Nuriye Gülmen in critical condition: Can’t even hold a pen 

  Lawyer Engin Gökoğlu said Gülmen and Özakça’s conditions are worsening by the minute and remarked that Gülmen has reached a point where she can’t even hold a pen.
• No news from Öcalan, concerns grow 

  For almost one year now, there have been no news on the condition of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan and three prisoners with him. They have been under absolute isolation. Lawyer Eren Keskin said there are serious concerns.
• UN: Turkey hinders our investigations in the South East 

  UN Human Rights High Commissioner Al Hussein said: “Our attempts at investigating the severe human rights violations in South Eastern Turkey are constantly rejected.”
• 560 babies in prisons with their mothers 

  There are 560 babies who live with their mothers in prisons in Turkey.
• Second-class refugees in Turkey: Êzidîs 

  The Êzidîs held in the AFAD camp in Midyat are simply being punished. Subjected to a “second-class refugee” treatment due to their faith, they cannot benefit from healthcare and other rights granted for other refugees.
• Letter from Gebze Prison: We are under torture! 

  Strict pressure and torture in Gebze Type M Women’s Prison has taken a systemic form. The detainees are tortured in the place called “the under door”, under the guise of searches. Inmate Evrim Konak sent a letter from the prison telling her experiences.
• CPT and IHD discussed the isolation of Öcalan 

  IHD Co-president Öztürk Türkdoğan spoke about their meeting with CPT officials and said "We told them that they should lay great stress on İmralı Prison. We tried to explain that they should be aware of the point the isolation has led Turkey to.
• CPT visited Turkey, didn’t visit Imralı 

  A group from the Council of Europe (CoE) Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) announced that they have visited 30 prisons and police stations. The group discussed the situation in Imralı but they didn’t visit the prison.
• HRW calls on the EU to make rights central to Erdoğan meeting 

  HRW said Juncker and Tusk should insist that EU-Turkey relations depend on Erdoğan’s releasing journalists and elected politicians, ending the state of emergency used to perpetuate a lawless crackdown on perceived opponents.
• Death sentence for Rojavan Kurd in Iran 

  The Iranian regime judiciary has sentenced Rojavan Kemal Hesen Remezan, who had previously received a 7 year sentence, to death with the new case prepared by the Itlaat. The death sentence was approved by the Urmia 3rd Revolution Court Branch.
• Jailed co-mayors held in solitary confinement 

  Bitlis Co-mayor Hüseyin Olan arrested on November 25, 2016 and Hizan Co-mayor İhsan Uğur arrested on December 14, 2016 are kept in solitary confinement for weeks without a reason.
• Ankara prevents the publishing of CPT’s report on İmralı 

  Although the isolation imposed upon Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan for 18 years is defined as “torture” in the 2014 verdict by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), it continues still, stricter now since April 15, 2015.
• Öcalan nominated for Sydney Peace Prize 

  Reverend Bill Crews of Australia has nominated Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan for the Sydney Peace Prize awarded by Sydney Peace Foundation.