HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• Prisoner Maruf Deniz tells of violations of rights in jail 

  Prisoner Maruf Deniz stated that the rights of political prisoners to video calls, newspapers, and letters in Kurdish were blocked and prisoners were handcuffed during medical examinations.
• Ferit Şenyaşar demands an end to persecution on 347th day of Vigil for Justice 

  The Şenyaşar family, whose relatives were murdered by AKP members in Suruç in 2018, continue their Vigil for Justice. Today is day 347 and the family once again demanded this persecution to end.
• TJA activist Sevil Rojbin Çetin remains in prison 

  The trial against TJA activist Sevil Rojbin Çetin was postponed on the grounds that secret witnesses did not attend the hearing.
• Court upholds prison sentence for HDP MP Kemal Bülbül 

  The Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court sentenced Bülbül to 6 years, 3 months in prison on November 26, 2020 on the grounds that he had attended the meetings of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) and made speeches there.
• Tuğluk's lawyers: Forensic Medicine Institute’s report is biased and unscientific 

  Lawyers made a statement about the Forensic Medicine Institute (ATK) report which decided that jailed Kurdish politician Aysel Tuğluk, who has been diagnosed with dementia, is “fit for detention”.
• Lawyers call for an end to the isolation of Öcalan 

  Members of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD) denounced the isolation of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan in Imrali prison insisting that “making contact with Öcalan will be a step towards ending the current social crises.”
• Emine Şenyaşar demanding justice for slain family members given judicial fine 

  Emine Şenyaşar's husband and two of her sons were lynched by an AKP mob in 2018. Now the woman has been fined for insulting the main perpetrator of the murders.
• Lawyer Ilknur Alcan: Imrali system destroys any hope for peace 

  Ilknur Alcan, co-chair of the Association of Free Lawyers, underlined that the isolation on Imrali destroys any hope for peace.
• Saturday Mothers demand justice for Maksut Tepeli 

  27-year-old Kurd Maksut Tepeli was a teacher when he was murdered by the police in Istanbul in 1984. Although it is known where he was buried, the state still refuses to hand over his bones.
• Justice Vigil of Şenyaşar family reaches day 341 

  The Justice Vigil initiated by the Şenyaşar family in front of the Urfa Courthouse, continues on its 341st day.
• Former prisoner talks about torture in Urfa T-Type jail 

  Mehmet Binici, who was released from the T-Type Closed Prison in Urfa, talked about the torture in the prison and called on people outside to be the voice of the prisoners.
• 140 political prisoners in Van High Security jail enter 3rd day of hunger strike 

  The hunger strike launched by 140 political prisoners in Van High Security Prison has entered its third day.
• DTK Health Council calls for enhanced struggle against isolation and torture in prisons 

  The DTK Health Council called for an escalation in the struggle against Öcalan’s isolation and the torture methods that have spread to all prisons.
• Political prisoners in Van launch hunger strike 

  Political prisoners in Van High Security Prison launched a 3-day hunger strike demanding the exposure of truth on the death of Ramazan Turan.
• Beştaş calls for support for the prisoners' families demanding justice 

  The families of the prisoners continue to keep their vigil for justice. Visiting the families, HDP Group Deputy Chairperson Meral Danış Beştaş stated that, "The AKP-MHP is hostile to Kurds in jails," and called for support for the vigil.
• Öcalan is subjected to a unique lawlessness on Imrali 

  Lawyer Feyzi Çelik says that although the constitution, law and international law are broken on Imrali and a special system of injustice has been installed, Öcalan's social leadership role has not diminished in any way.
• Şenyaşar Family: Behind the prosecutor is an armed MP of the AKP 

  The Senyaşar Family blamed the Turkish judiciary which protects the murderers, saying that “behind the prosecutor is an armed member of the parliament.”
• HDP shares video to draw attention to condition of Aysel Tuğluk 

  The HDP shared a video to draw attention to the condition of ill prisoner Aysel Tuğluk, who was diagnosed with "dementia" in prison.
• Relatives of ill prisoners to protest in front of Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan today 

  The relatives of ill prisoners will be in front of Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan at 1 pm (local time) today with the slogan "Freedom for ill prisoners".
• Aysel Tuğluk and Freedom for ill Prisoners Platform announces more actions and campaigns 

  The Aysel Tuğluk and Freedom for ill Prisoners Platform announced that they will expand their organization to stop deaths in prisons.
• Mother Şenyaşar calls on women to witness what they experience 

  Mother Emine Şenyaşar, whose family was murdered by AKP members, called out to women and said "Come to the courthouse and watch the abuse we are subjected to."
• Justice Vigil continues in Van: “Hear the voice of the families” 

  The justice vigil of the prisoners' families at the Van Bar Association is continuing. Spokeswoman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Ebru Günay visited the families on Tuesday.
• Human rights activist remains in police custody 

  The detention period of IHD member Ferhat Berkpınar, who is being held in police custody on terror charges, has been extended by four days. The reason given was that the taking of evidence had not yet been completed.
• Prisoners see their release postponed for arbitrary reasons 

  Ilyas Peldek and Abdulhaluk Özerk, who are imprisoned in Samsun Bafra T Type Prison, had their release postponed for arbitrary reasons.
• IHD co-chair Eren Keskin visits Şenyaşar family 

  IHD co-chair Eren Keskin visited the Şenyaşar family. She gave Emine Şenyaşar the scarf and carnation that Saturday Mothers had sent her.