HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• Prosecutor dismisses investigation into prisoner Garibe Gezer's claims of systematic torture 

  Human Rights Association co-chair Eren Keskin has said that the prosecutor has dismissed an investigation into prisoner Garibe Gezer's claims of systematic torture and sexual assault. Gezer died in prison in December.
• Şenyaşar family: Nobody should talk about justice in Turkey 

  Şenyaşar family holding a vigil for justice in Urfa said, “Nobody should talk about justice in Tukey. We are rightful; we will keep our struggle going despite sub-zero temperatures.”
• 160 refugees died in Van in 3 years 

  Human Rights Association Van Branch and Serhat Migration and Research Association announced that 160 refugees lost their lives on the migration route in eastern Turkey's Van province in the last 3 years.
• ‘Our children are jailed because they are Kurds’ 

  Families and relatives of prisoners holding a vigil for justice in Amed said, “Our children are jailed because they are Kurds.”
• Öcalan’s lawyers request the CPT to visit Imrali prison 

  The Asrın Law Office has requested the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) to pay an urgent visit to İmralı prison where Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan is held.
• Prisoner in Tekirdağ No. 2 F Type Prison says they fear for their lives 

  Mehmet Şerif Aslan, a political prisoner in Tekirdağ No. 2 F Type Prison, called his family and said that he fears for his life.
• Vigil in Basel exposes torture against prisoners in Turkey 

  A vigil was launched in Basel on Monday to expose the torture practices carried out by the Turkish state against the prisoners and to show solidarity with the ill prisoners. The vigil will last until 7 January.
• Turkish government adopts enemy law against Kurdish political prisoners 

  Kurdish politician and former lawmaker Sibel Yiğitalp said that the AKP-MHP government's treatment of Kurdish prisoners is based on the law of the enemy.
• Ferit Şenyaşar visits IHD and DIP for legal support 

  Ferit Şenyaşar who carries out a justice vigil with his mother outside the Urfa Courthouse met members of the Human Rights Association (IHD) and Union for Democracy (DIP).
• The Şenyaşar family resistance reaches Istanbul 

  The Şenyaşar family will visit the Human Rights Organisation and the Revolutionary Party in Istanbul.
• Justice Vigil for ill prisoners reaches day 49 

  Relatives of the prisoners, who continue their struggle for justice for the ill and prisoners whose sentence has been fully served, stated that they will continue their actions until they get a result.
• Tuğluk's lawyer says Forensic Medicine Institute is not acting independently  

  Lawyer Veysi Eski criticized the Forensic Medicine Institute for ruling that Aysel Tuğluk can remain in prison despite the report by 9 specialist doctors stating the contrary.
• Justice Vigil by Şenyaşar family reaches day 300 

  Emine and Ferit Şenyaşar are on the 300th day of their Justice Vigil. They posted a message on their social media account, saying "The justice we seek will come in 2022".
• The state continues to keep ill prisoners in jail 

  Seriously ill prisoner Ismail Yılmaz’s guardian, Ibrahim Hakkı Eren, said that "the state has chosen death," after learning that the application for Eren release was rejected.
• Prisoners’ families Justice Vigil reaches day 47 

  The Justice Vigil carried out by prisoners’ families in the premises of Amed Bar Association is on its 47th day.
• Amed Bar application on Imrali receives no answer by Ministry of Justice  

  The Ministry of Justice left the Amed Bar Association's application regarding Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan unanswered. Lawyer Mehdi Özdemir said: "Democracy will not come until isolation is over."
• Families of prisoners condemn inhumane treatments in jails 

  Families of prisoners continue their resistance in Amed and Van demanding an end to inhumane treatments in jails.
• IHD: At least 144 people were kidnapped and threatened in Turkey in 2021 

  IHD stated that at least 144 people were found to be abducted, spied on and threatened during 2021, while the actual figure is much higher.
• Prison guards tell prisoner: "There is no justice here, we will eliminate you" 

  Cumali Yıldırım, who is imprisoned in Afyon No. 1 T-Type Prison, was threatened by the guards who told him: "There is no justice here, we will eliminate you" because he wanted to exercise his legal rights.
• ÖHD and TUAY-DER call for an investigation in all prisons 

  At a press conference convened in response to the rising human rights breaches in jails, human rights organizations called for an independent investigation in all prisons, including İmralı.
• Asrın Law Office applies to Constitutional Court for Öcalan and other prisoners in Imrali 

  Asrın Law Office applied to the Constitutional Court and said that the lives of Abdullah Öcalan and the other prisoners in Imralı, "are at risk."
• Iran killed 54 kolbars in 2021 

  According to the data released by Kolbernews, the Iranian state has killed 548 kolbars in 9 years. In 2021, it killed 54 kolbars.
• 83-year-old seriously ill prisoner Özkan tested positive for Covid-19 for third time 

  83-year-old seriously ill prisoner Mehmet Emin Özkan who is held in Diyarbakır D Type Prison tested positive for Covid-19 for the third time.
• Sick prisoner Ayık warns of more deaths in jails 

  Devrim Ayık, an ill prisoner held in Eskişehir Prison, denounced right violations in prison and warned of possible death cases.
• Peace Mothers in Van call for the release of sick prisoners 

  The Peace Mothers Van Assembly slammed the increasing violations of rights in Turkey’s prisons and demanded immediate release of sick prisoners.