HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• Öcalan’s lawyers submit urgent request to CPT 

  The legal team of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan has submitted an urgent request to the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) demanding an immediate visit to the prison island of Imrali.
• Lawyer Yunus Emre Şahan: Prisoners have their right to access health denied  

  Lawyer Yunus Emre Şahan said that the prisoners' right to access health is prevented and added that "because of these prohibitions, those with chronic diseases can die even because of a small flu."
• HDP brings Newala Qesaba to Parliament 

  The HDP had been prevented from visiting Newala Qesaba and brought the issue to the agenda of the Parliament, filing a criminal complaint against state forces.
• Man who was tortured by soldiers sent to prison 

  Yahya Karabaş, who was tortured by soldiers in the village of Timoq was sent to prison.
• Turkey: 10 physicians died as a result of violence in healthcare in 20 years 

  Press statements have been made by healthcare workers across Turkey on the occasion of “Day of Struggle Against Violence in Healthcare.”
• Police detains activists protesting for prisoners in Istanbul 

  Police attacked the ‘bloody coffin’ protest that the Initiative for Solidarity with Prisoners staged in front of the Forensic Medicine Institution in Istanbul against increasing torture and deaths in prisons. Three activists were detained.
• 70-year-old prisoner remains in prison despite not being able to meet his needs 

  Abdulbaki Harmancı, 70, who is being held in Erzurum H Type Prison, has serious health problems and is no longer able to meet his needs.
• Prisoners in Diyarbakır High Security Prison go on a 3-day hunger strike against torture 

  Prisoners in Diyarbakır High Security Prison No. 1 went on a 3-day hunger strike against torture and ill-treatment and issued a call on civil society organizations.
• Police beat lawyer Orhan Alphan in Batman Courthouse 

  Lawyer Orhan Alphan, who tried to prevent the torture of a prisoner in Batman Courthouse, was subjected to police violence himself. Batman Bar Association strongly condemned the attack.
• Yılmaz: My brother was tortured to death, ATK asked for a bribe 

  Hikmet Yılmaz, brother of prisoner Ferhan Yılmaz who lost his life in Silivri Prison No. 5, said that his brother did not die of a heart attack as claimed, rather he was tortured to death and that a bribe of 30 thousand TL was asked from the family.
• Iran court upholds death sentence for captured HPG fighter Hatem Özdemir  

  The death sentence for the captured HPG fighter Hatem Özdemir has been confirmed by the Iranian judiciary.
• Guards force prisoners to commit suicide in Silivri 

  It is reported that guards in Silivri prison left ropes and razors in cells to force prisoners to commit suicide.
• Police launch investigation against disabled man in Van after beating him 

  An investigation was launched against Uğur Acar, a 65 percent disabled 24-year-old who was beaten by police while working as a tea seller in Van and stayed in the intensive care unit for 3 days, on the charge of ‘resisting the officer in charge’.
• Two detainees die after torture by guards in Silivri prison 

  The Human Rights Association Istanbul Branch reported that two prisoners were tortured by prison guards before losing their lives in Silivri Prison.
• HDP deputy Gergerlioğlu draws attention to overcrowding and violations in Turkish prisons 

  HDP Kocaeli MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu drew attention to the overcrowding and violations in Turkish prisons and said that the prisoners were dragged to death and great problems were experienced.
• Kurdish man tortured while in custody released 

  Yahya Karabaş, who was arrested again in Batman at the instigation of the gendarmerie, has been released against a court-ordered ban on leaving the country. The public prosecutor had requested custody.
• HDP co-chair Pervin Buldan visits Şenyaşar family  

  HDP co-chair Pervin Buldan was a guest at the "Justice table" organised by the Şenyaşar family and said: "Stop this injustice as soon as possible."
• Political prisoners in Patnos go on hunger strike 

  Political prisoners in the L-type Patnos jail in the northern Kurdish province of Agri have gone on a hunger strike to protest severe mistreatment.
• Police arrest man they detained and tortured before 

  Yahya Karabaş, who was detained and tortured in the village of Timoq, was taken into custody once again.
• New prison model: Concentration camps for Kurdish prisoners 

  Two new type S prisons are being established in Erzurum. The new prison model completely isolates political prisoners. Left to their own devices, they are deprived of any connection to humanity.
• Human Rights Association: 255 prisoners have died in 5 years 

  The IHD drew attention to the death of Mehmet Sevinç, who lost his life in Manisa Akhisar Prison in this week's action, and reminded that 255 detainees have died in 5 years.
• Three prisoners beaten by guards in Patnos jail 

  Three detainees in Patnos L Type Closed Prison were beaten by the guards. It was stated that two of the detainees had broken arms and beat marks on their heads.
• Kurdish language continues to be prohibited in prisons 

  It has been exposed that guards in Diyarbakır No. 1 High Security Closed Prison warned the detainees about singing Kurdish songs on Newroz Day as "forbidden" and threatened them with physical violence and disciplinary punishments.
• HDP group chair Beştaş and MP Ersoy visit Aysel Tuğluk and say her situation worsened 

  HDP parliamentary group chair Meral Danış Beştaş and MP Oya Ersoy visited Aysel Tuğluk in Kandıra Prison, and said that her illness was progressing. They called for her to be released.
• Kurdish activist Muhammed Tunç deported to Turkey 

  Despite an arrest warrant, the threat of forced conscription and death threats, Muhammed Tunç has been deported to Turkey. "If something happens to the man, there will be blood on the state government's hands," says his lawyer.