HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• 83-year-old Mehmet Emin Özkan remains in prison 

  Problems were posed to the Forensic Medicine Institute in order to stop the release of 83-year-old Mehmet Emin Özkan, who has been imprisoned for decades as a result of an unfair trial and is seriously ill.
• Turkey ranks 107th out of 128 countries in Rule of Law Index 

  More countries declined than improved in overall rule of law performance for the third year in a row, the WJP has noted.
• Families of 20 prisoners in Antalya S Type apply to the IHD exposing torture 

  The families of 20 prisoners who were forcibly transferred from Antalya L Type Closed Prison to the newly built S Type have applied to the IHD exposing the violence they are subjected to.
• IHD Izmir Branch calls for the immediate release of ill prisoner Ahmet Çakal 

  IHD Izmir Branch said that prisoner Ahmet Çakal, who is suffering from stomach cancer, is getting worse and demanded his immediate release.
• Yazidis: The whole Europe should recognize the Yazidi genocide 

  Yazidi people living in Aleppo demanded the European Parliament, as well as Belgium, to recognize Yazidi genocide and stated that the Turkish state and allied gangs should be brought to account.
• Prisoners in Antalya S Type Closed Prison denounce torture 

  Prisoners sent from Antalya L Type Closed Prison to S Type Closed Prison were tortured because they refused to be strip searched.
• Justice Commission for Gülistan Doku supports march for Suruç victims 

  The Justice Commission for Gülistan Doku has announced their support for the Istanbul-Ankara march for the 33 young activists killed in the 2015 bombing in Suruç district of Urfa.
• 33 saplings to remember the 33 martyrs of Suruç 

  Youth organizations planted 33 saplings on the campus of the Ortadoğu Teknik Üniversitesi (ODTÜ) in memory of the 33 people who lost their lives in the Suruç Massacre and called the place "Suruç Garden".
• Suruç Families launch 'Justice for Suruç, Justice for all' campaign 

  The Suruç Families Initiative launched the "Justice for Suruç, Justice for all" campaign with a press statement in the place where Berkin Elvan was shot.
• Hunger strike in Greece reaches day 187 

  The 38th group of activists took over the hunger strike launched by the Kurds in Lavrio to demand freedom for Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan.
• Prisoners denied medical treatment in Düzce 

  13 prisoners in Düzce T Type Closed Prison have not been referred to hospital for two years.
• Political prisoner Kaiytbey not treated after torture 

  Political prisoner Mizgin Kayitbey, who was tortured by 30 guards last week in Patnos L-Type Prison, is not being treated. Talking with her family by phone, Kayitbey said that she was worried about her safety and called for sensitivity.
• Dutch Parliament recognises ISIS massacre of Yazidis as genocide 

  The Dutch House of Representatives has recognized the massacre carried out by ISIS against the Yazidi community as genocide and a crime against humanity.
• Şenyaşar Family: If there is solidarity, there will be justice 

  The Şenyaşar family is continuing their resistance and said that justice can be achieved through solidarity.
• 85 conscience objectors fined in Turkey 

  The Campaign to Support the Right to Conscientious Objection in Turkey has released its report on 'Conscientious Objection to Military Service in Turkey'.
• Prisoners in Mardin: The hunger strike will continue till isolation of Öcalan is lifted 

  The hunger strike in prisons demanding the end of the isolation of Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan and the end to the violations of rights is on its 221st day. Prisoners in Mardin E Type Prison said that they will not take a step back.
• Police attack activists demanding justice for Suruç massacre  

  To mark the upcoming sixth anniversary of the Suruç attack, activists have distributed leaflets calling for justice in Ankara. The police opened fire with shots in the air and arrested five activists.
• Doctor Murat Ekmez says that isolation and torture are a threat to all humanity 

  Following the hunger strikes in prisons against the Imrali isolation, Istanbul Chamber of Physicians Board member, Doctor Murat Ekmez, said that isolation and torture are a threat to all humanity and called for a common struggle.
• Şenyaşar family visits bar association, DEVA party in Amed 

  The Şenyaşar family continues their resistance for justice. The family visited the bar association and the Democracy and Progress (DEVA) Party in Amed, Diyarbakir.
• Protest against Imrali isolation in front of Bakırköy Prison 

  The Solidarity with Prisoners Initiative protested the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan in front of Bakırköy Prison, Istanbul and expressed support to the ongoing resistance in Turkey’s prisons.
• Mother Şenyaşar: They are persecuting my son in prison! 

  Emine Şenyaşar made a phone call with her son Fadıl Şenyaşar, who has been jailed in Elazığ Prison for 3 years. “They are tormenting my son. We are being persecuted,” Şenyaşar said.
• Police storm prison, abduct two prisoners in Tokat 

  Turkish police raided the wards in Tokat prison, maltreated the prisoners, and kidnapped prisoners Hasan Ortaç and Mustafa Okçu.
• Thirty guards attack woman prisoner in Patnos L-Type Prison 

  Mizgin Kayitbey is in Patnos L-Type Prison and was tortured by 30 male guards.
• Seriously ill prisoner maltreated during hospitalization 

  Seriously ill prisoner Mehmet Emin Özkan travelled 3,300 kilometres in 2 weeks. The elderly man fell ill on the way.
• Hunger strikes in prisons reach day 215 

  The hunger strike prisoners started against the isolation of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan continues on its 215th day. The hunger strike action in Maxmur has reached day 194 and in Greece day 177.