HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• Hunger strike in prisons enters day 30 

  Prisoners entered the 30th day of hunger strike against isolation and violations of their rights.
• Mother of fallen guerrilla asks for her son's remains 

  Nazmiye Kaya is one of the mothers of 260 fallen guerrillas who are still deprived of their children's remains.
• Lawyers file application for the release of Figen Yüksekdağ 

  An application was made for the release of HDP former co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ, who was taken hostage by the Turkish government and put in prison.
• Sick prisoner on hunger strike against isolation 

  Three prisoners are on hunger strike together with sick prisoner Hadi Elçiçek, in Tarsus No 2 T Type Closed Prison.
• Solitary confinment punishment for prisoners on hunger strike 

  The Antalya L Type Closed Prison administration launched an investigation on the grounds of "making propaganda for an illegal organization" against prisoners on hunger strike and sentenced them to 11 days in solitary confinement.
• 20,000 HDP members taken into custody in 4 years, 10,000 jailed 

  HDP co-deputy head for local governments Salim Kaplan said that "since 2016, 20,000 of our members have been taken into custody and more than 10,000 of our members and executives have been sent to jail."
• Hunger strike in prisons reaches day 29 

  The hunger strikes launched by prisoners against the isolation imposed on Abdullah Öcalan  and the violations in prisons has entered its 29th day with the 6th group of prisoners.
• Seven prisoners take over hunger strike in Van 

  Seven prisoners announced that they took over the hunger strike launched in Van by PKK and PAJK prisoners and now on its 28th day.
• Prisoners enter 28th day of hunger strike  

  The hunger strike launched by prisoners demanding to end the isolation on Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan and end the violations in prisons has reached day 28 and is being carried out by the 6th group of prisoners.
• Demirtaş: ECtHR judgement confirms the subversion of the law 

  "Even though I have been unlawfully held behind bars as a political hostage for four years, this judgement has not made me happy or joyful. On the contrary, I am really sad about this judgement," Demirtaş said.
• ECtHR calls for the immediate release of Demirtaş 

  The European Court of Human Rights ruled that Turkey is unlawfully jailing Demirtaş and called on Turkish authorities "to take all necessary measures" to secure Demirtaş's immediate release.
• Leyla Güven is in Diyarbakır Women's Closed Prison 

  DTK co-chair Leyla Güven, who was sentenced to 22 years in prison, has been sent to Diyarbakır Women's Closed Prison.
• HDP Hakkari province co-chair Kaya: Support the hunger strike 

  Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Hakkari Provincial co-chair Sinan Kaya called on everyone to reclaim and support the action to push for the demands of the prisoners to be met.
• Hunger strike enters day 26 

  The hunger strike launched by prisoners on 27 November demanding the end of the isolation on Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan and the violations in prisons entered its 26th day with the 5th group.
• Hunger strike in prisons enters day 25 

  The hunger strike launched by prisoners on 27 November demanding the end of the isolation on Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan and the violations in prisons entered its 25th day with the 5th group.
• European Democratic Lawyers call for release of Aytaç Ünsal 

  The AED/EDL (European Democratic Lawyers) issued a statement expressing concern for the new detention of lawyer Aytaç Ünsal.
• Transfer of prisoners continues 

  Two prisoners were transferred to different prisons after a raid carried out on the wards of the Van T Type Closed Women Prison.
• Kanat: The government uses pandemic to exercise power 

  Human rights activist Fatin Kanat says that the state of emergency in Turkey has never stopped. The most serious rights violations take place in prison, and the pandemic is used as a means to exercise power.
• Autonomous Administration denounces war crimes by Turkey 

  The Humanitarian Office of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria condemned the Turkish attacks on the civilian population and labeled the interruption of the water supply as a war crime. The body issued an appeal to the UN.
• Fifth group of prisoners carries out 24th day of hunger strike 

  The hunger strike launched by prisoners on 27 November demanding the end of the isolation imposed on Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan and to end the violations of rights in prisons entered its 24th day.
• Maraş, Roboski and 19 December 2000 prison massacres remembered 

  The victims of the Maraş and Roboski Massacres were remembered in Cologne together with the victims of the prison operation carried out in Turkey on 19 December 2000. Activists also saluted the hunger strike currently going on in the prisons.
• Prisoners enter day 23 of their hunger strike against isolation 

  The hunger strike launched by prisoners demanding the end of the isolation imposed in Imrali continues on day 23, with the 5th group of prisoners.
• Ümit Efe: Building the fight for human rights 

  As part of the week of human rights, the TIHV organized a rally in Istanbul held despite the heavy police presence. TIHV Istanbul representative Ümit Efe, called for the struggle to be built “for a democratic future and human rights”.
• Four prisoners transferred from Diyarbakir jail 

  Four prisoners in Diyarbakır D Type Closed Prison were transferred to jails in Trabzon, Giresun, Rize and Kocaeli for "security" reasons.
• Dede: Imrali regime affects all prisons and society 

  Lawyer Ümit Dede said Imrali isolation should be handled not only on legal grounds but also socially, adding, "The execution regime applied in Imrali prison affects all prisons and society very concretely.”