HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• Hunger strike in prisons enters day 238 

  The hunger strike launched by prisoners against the isolation of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan continues on its 238th day. The solidarity hunger strike in Maxmur has reached day 217 and day 200 in Greece.
• 15 regional bar associations issue statement condemning increasing racist attacks on Kurds 

  15 regional bar associations issued a joint statement condemning the increasing racist attacks against Kurdish citizens in various cities.
• Attack on Kurdish family in Ankara 

  Four people were injured, two of them seriously, as the result of a racist attack on a Kurdish family in Ankara. The police later attacked the family outside the hospital as well.
• Turkish forces detain 133 migrants from Afghanistan in Van 

  Within a few days, Turkish security forces have arrested 133 migrants from Afghanistan on the border between northern and eastern Kurdistan. They now face deportation back to the escalating Afghan civil war.
• Hundreds of migrants continue hunger strike for legal status in Belgium 

  The migrants demand a temporary residence permit for 6 months or one year so that their applications for residence permit can be examined in depth.
• Call for international investigation on Turkey’s destruction of martyrs' graves in Afrin 

  Lawyer Ferhad Baqir said that an international committee should investigate Turkish state's destruction of martyrs' graves in Afrin. Documents deny Turkey’s claims that the victims were killed by Kurdish forces.
• Group from Bremen takes over Freedom for Öcalan Vigil on its 474th week 

  The Freedom for Öcalan Vigil was taken over by a new group from Bremen on its 474th week.
• Families of Roboski massacre victims meet at graveyard on Feast of Sacrifice 

  The families of the victims of the Roboski massacre spent the Feast of Sacrifice at the graveyard.
• The Human Rights Foundation of Turkey reports increase in women who suffered torture 

  According to the TIHV Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers Report, the number of tortured women increased by 10 percent.
• Police attack rally for Suruç victims, detain 19 young people 

  Police attacked the commemoration held in Inönü Park in Adana for those who lost their lives in the Suruç Massacre. 19 young people were harassed and detained.
• Despite repression, MEBYA-DER holds congress in Amed 

  Repression and the cruel war even against the dead are a reason for MEBYA-DER to fight even more. Most of the board members are in prison, nevertheless the solidarity association held a congress in Amed.
• Refugees from Afghanistan arrive in North Kurdistan 

  The unchecked advance of the Taliban is driving many Afghans to flee. More and more refugees are stranded in North Kurdistan.
• Lawyer Kutevi: 'Prisoners are deprived of all their rights' 

  Van Bar Association Prisons Commission Coordinator, Abdülkadir Kutevi, said that after the hunger strikes, political prisoners were deprived of all their legal rights.
• Turkey lifts ban on leaving the country imposed on Kurdish singer Hozan Canê 

  The ban on travelling abroad imposed on Kurdish singer Hozan Canê in Turkey, who has been accused of terrorism, has been lifted. The Cologne woman can now leave the country.
• Emine Şenyaşar: This government is killing us 

  Emine and Ferit Şenyaşar, have been released later on Wednesday. They had been taken into custody in the morning, coincidentally ahead of the arrival of HDP co-chair Pervin Buldan.
• Police take Emine and Ferit Şenyaşar into custody ahead of HDP co-chair Buldan visit 

  Emine Şenyaşar and her son Ferit have been taken into custody once again. It was noteworthy that these detentions coincided with HDP co-chair Pervin Buldan visit to Urfa.
• TIHV reports increase in torture cases in Kurdish cities 

  According to a report released by the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey, hundreds of people applied to the foundation after experiencing torture. The report pointed out that torture has increased in the Kurdish region.
• Saturday Mothers on trial: We will never give up 

  The Saturday Mothers made a press statement in front of the Çağlayan Courthouse before a court hearing against them saying that they will never give up.
• 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.