HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• Urgent appeal to stop executions in Iran 

  The week of campaign against executions in Iran ended with an urgent appeal signed by over 30 human rights organizations.
• IHD publishes report about rights violations in prisons in Central Anatolia region 

  The IHD Ankara Branch published its report about the rights violations in prisons in the Central Anatolia region for October, November and December 2023.
• Mothers at Justice Vigils call for struggle to be spread  

  The Justice Vigils carried out by relatives of political prisoners in Turkey to demand freedom for Abdullah Öcalan continue. Activists are calling for the actions to be spread.
• MEPs call on EU to protest Turkish aggression and crimes in North-East Syria 

  Members of the Kurdish Friendship Group in the European Parliament have written a letter to Joseph Borrell regarding the invading Turkish state's attacks on North and East Syria, criticising the inaction and silence in the face of attacks and crimes.
• ECCHR and STJ urge German Federal Public Prosecutor's Office to investigate crimes in Afrin 

  The human rights organizations the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) and Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ) have filed a criminal complaint with the German Federal Public Prosecutor's Office to address the crimes in Afrin.
• Another ill prisoner dies in jail 

  Abdullah Varışlı, a prisoner suffering from cancer and held in Erzurum Oltu Prison, passed away. He was buried in his hometown, Cizîra Botan.
• Gülser Özbay released after spending 31 years and 6 months in prison 

  Gülser Özbay was released after being held in prison by the Turkish state for 31 years and 6 months. She was welcomed with enthusiasm in her hometown Doğubayazıt.
• IHD: The state uses systematic pressure to recruit politically active Kurds as informants 

  The Turkish state is using systematic pressure to recruit politically active Kurds as informants, said IHD chair Ercan Yılmaz in Amed.
• Kurdish young man dies of torture in Iran 

  A Kurdish young man from Lorestan named Imam Hasan Wend, who was subjected to severe torture in Iranian prisons for about four months, has died.
• DEM MP Konukçu: They murdered Metin under torture 

  DEM Party MP Kezban Konukçu was arrested in 1996 on the same occasion as murdered journalist Metin Göktepe. She said: “They took me to the police headquarters. They murdered Metin in the gym.”
• Prisoners expose new violations of rights in Rize jail 

  Political prisoner Taner Ergün, said that an infection is spreading in Rize jail, particularly among the seriously ill prisoners, but they are not being given any medication.
• HRW: Courts politicized, media muzzled, political opponents punished in Turkey’s centennial year 

  “Turkey’s human rights record in its centennial year included a muzzled media and political opponents routinely targeted and punished,” says Human Rights Watch.
• Legal and human rights organisations apply to the CPT for action against isolation in Imrali Prison 

  Human rights and legal organisations applied to the CPT regarding the prevention of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş from meeting with their lawyers under absolute isolation in İmralı.
• 35-year-old killed in Iranian custody in East Kurdistan 

  A 35-year-old man was killed in Iranian custody in East Kurdistan. According to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network, Payam Abdi was tortured to death in a Secret Service interrogation center in Kirmaşan province.
• Mother who received son's remains by post in prison for eight months 

  The mother of martyr Agit Ipek, Halise Aksoy, has been in prison for eight months. Her second hearing will take place on tomorrow, 12 January. Her lawyer called on the public to closely monitor the hearing.
• Political prisoners in Turkey on day 45 of hunger strike 

  As part of the global campaign demanding freedom for Kurdish Leader Abdullah Öcalan and a political solution to the Kurdish question, the alternating hunger strike launched by PKK and PAJK prisoners in Turkish prisons continues on its 45th day.
• Hunger Strike Monitoring Coordination in Van says prisoners are subjected to violations of rights 

  The report on prisons prepared by the Hunger Strike Monitoring and Follow-up Coordination in Van exposed that prisoners on hunger strike were subjected to a number of violations.
• Lawyer Mistefa calls on the international community to take a serious stand against isolation 

  Lawyer Cibrail Mistefa, a member of the Syrian Initiative to Defend the Freedom of Abdullah Öcalan, called on the international community to take a serious stance against the isolation of the Kurdish leader.
• Supreme Court in Iran confirms further death sentences against Kurds 

  The Supreme Court in Iran has confirmed further death sentences against Kurds. Komala activists Pejman Fatehi, Wafa Azarbar, Mohammad Faramarzi and Mohsen Mazloum are in imminent danger of execution.
• Ören: My mother can't survive in prison 

  Reyhan Ören, daughter of 76-year-old seriously ill prisoner Hanife Arslan, said that it was impossible for her mother to live in prison.
• UPOTUDAK: Isolation is a crime against humanity 

  The International Committee of Solidarity with Political Prisoners organized a protest in London to expose the situation of ill prisoners.
• Son of seriously ill prisoner calls for the release of his father 

  Ismail Kaya, son of seriously ill prisoner Abdulalim Kaya, said: "My father is being kept unconscious in prison."
• ISIG: 154 workplace homicides recorded in December 

  ISIG announced that 154 workplace homicides happened in December.
• Political prisoners in Turkey on day 39 of hunger strike 

  As part of the global campaign demanding freedom for Kurdish Leader Abdullah Öcalan and a political solution to the Kurdish question, the alternating hunger strike launched by PKK and PAJK prisoners in Turkish prisons continues on its 39th day.
• Court of Cassation: Constitutional Court's decision on Atalay has no legal value 

  The Court of Cassation, in a new decision regarding TIP deputy Can Atalay, said the Constitutional Court's violation decision is an example of "juristocracy" and declared it "unlawful."