HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• Imrali Peace Delegation visits Öcalan’s lawyers and discusses isolation 

  Members of the International Imrali Peace Delegation visited the lawyers of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and received information about his isolation and the current political situation.
• Court wants Kurdish politician Aysel Tuğluk to present her defense in new trial 

  Kurdish politician Aysel Tuğluk, who was released from prison in October 2022 as she suffers from, is now being forced to make her "defense" in a new lawsuit against her.
• Two people in Iran hanged for burning the Qur'an  

  Two people in Iran were hanged for burning the Qur'an and insulting the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
• ISIG: At least 585 workers lost their lives in first four months of 2023 

  The Occupational Health and Safety Assembly (ISIG) announced that at least 585 workers lost their lives in the first four months of 2023 as a result of occupational homicides.
• Iran executes at least 582 people in 2022 

  The 15th Annual Report on the Death Penalty in Iran, by Iran Human Rights and ECPM reveals the highest annual number of executions since 2015. At least 582 people were executed in 2022.
• Saturday Mothers detained again on the 945th week of action 

  In Istanbul, the Saturday Mothers' vigil was once again prevented and 23 members of the initiative were taken into custody by the police.
• Kurdish politician Ayaz on hunger strike in Cyprus prison denied family visit 

  Kenan Ayaz, detained in Cyprus and facing extradition to Germany, is on an indefinite hunger strike in protest at the action taken against him.
• Mother who received her son's body by post: Do not surrender! 

  Halise Aksoy received her son's bones in a post package in 2020. She was arrested last week. Her first message was "Don't surrender to those in power".
• Kurdish politician in Cyprus custody goes on indefinite hunger strike 

  Kenan Ayaz, detained in Cyprus and facing extradition to Germany, has started an indefinite hunger strike in protest at the action taken against him.
• Trial against the Saturday Mothers opens today in Istanbul 

  The trial against the Saturday Mothers will open today in Istanbul.
• Kurdish activists in Geneva call for release of Kenan Ayaz 

  Kurdish activists gathered in Geneva demanding freedom for Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan and the release of Kenan Ayaz, who was extradited to Germany.
• No contact with boat carrying Syrian migrants  

  Contact with a boat carrying Syrian migrants off the Algerian coast has been lost since last Wednesday.
• Munzur: CPT should stop serving the Turkish state 

  The Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan Initiative-Syria Member Ferzende Munzur said that the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) was not doing its duty and thus serving the Turkish state policy.
• Ferit Şenyaşar: "We will bring justice and peace to Turkey together" 

  Speaking at the Justice Vigil, Ferit Şenyaşar said: “We will be the voice of the 301 miners who were killed in Soma. We will bring justice and peace to Turkey together."
• 25 detained in police attack on Saturday Mothers in Istanbul 

  The Saturday Mothers have again been attacked by the police in Istanbul and 25 people have been taken into custody.
• Families of Öcalan and other prisoners in Imrali once again apply for a visit 

  Families of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan and of the other prisoners in Imralı have submitted new applications for a visit.
• HRW: Turkish border guards torture, kill Syrians 

  “Turkish gendarmes and armed forces in charge of border control routinely abuse and indiscriminately shoot at Syrians along the Syrian-Turkish border, with hundreds of deaths and injuries recorded in recent years,” said HRW Director Hugh Williamson.
• International groups demand release of Kurdish journalists, lawyers, party officials  

  International groups demand the release of Kurdish journalists, lawyers, and political party officials arrested in Turkey in a pre-election crackdown.
• Lawyers: If no voice is raised against the crackdown, it will spread all over Turkey 

  The Association of Lawyers for Freedom condemned Tuesday’s mass detentions, warning that: "If no voice is raised against the crackdown, it will spread all over Turkey."
• HRW calls on Turkey to free, end harassment of journalists, party officials, lawyers 

  International groups demand the release of Kurdish journalists, lawyers, and political party officials arrested in a pre-election crackdown in Turkey.
• MAF-DAD expresses solidarity with lawyers detained in Turkey: "We will fight together" 

  “MAF-DAD stands in solidarity with all detained lawyers who face intense pressure while practicing their profession in an honorable manner and fighting for the principles of law and human rights. We are with them in their legal struggle."
• Human Rights Watch: Security forces in Iran kill, torture, abuse children 

  Iran’s security forces repressing widespread protests have unlawfully killed, tortured, sexually assaulted, and disappeared children as part of a pattern of serious violations, says HRW.
• 33 bar associations call for restrictions imposed on lawyers and other detainees to be lifted 

  33 bar associations called for the ban on lawyers and the restrictions imposed on the over 150 people taken into custody on Tuesday to be lifted.
• Kenan Ayaz: My extradition to Germany would be a gift to Erdogan 

  Kurdish activist Kenan Ayaz, imprisoned in Cyprus at the instigation of Germany, stated that none of his activities could be construed as terrorist and that his extradition would be an electoral gift for Erdogan.
• Justice Vigil of Şenyaşar family on day 761 

  Today marks the 761st day of the Şenyaşar family’s vigil for justice.