Human Rights

Latest News

• Van youth protest the isolation of Öcalan 

  HDP Youth Assembly members held a festival with the motto, “We started young we will finish young” and protested the policies of war and isolation.
• 14-month-old Baby Arin wastes away in prison 

  Health issues of 14-month-old Baby Arin, staying with mother Esma Yilmaz in prison, are increasing. Father Mihdi Yilmaz said, “If there isn’t enough humanity left to protect a child, I have nothing to say.”
• Police batter Saturday Mothers in 704th week demonstration 

  Relatives of the disappeared protested the arbitrary practice and started marching towards the Galatasaray Square, upon which they were attacked by the police.
• 6 more months of no visitation for Öcalan 

  Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan has been banned from meeting with his lawyers for 6 more months. Meetings held 10 years ago were cited as the reason for the ban.
• Police attack the Saturday Mothers in Istanbul 

  The police attacked the Saturday Mothers’ gathering for their disappeared relatives. The crowd responded by chanting. The attack continues.
• Has Öcalan been issued “disciplinary punishment”? 

  Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan’s family was prevented from visiting him with a new arbitrary excuse this time, stating that Öcalan was issued a disciplinary punishment.
• Cameras turned off and prisoners attacked in Elazig 

  Wardens in the Elazig Prison turned off the cameras to attack the prisoners, including the elderly prisoners, who all say they won’t bow down.
• Sick prisoner Vefa Kartal on death fast for 78 days 

  Sick prisoner Vefa Kartal has been on a death fast for the last 78 days because he isn’t provided with treatment, and for other sick prisoners like him. His brother Umut Kartal called for awareness.
• HRW: Turkish strikes in northern Iraq may break laws of war 

  At least 7 non-combatants killed; residents say no military targets nearby.
• German human rights activists visit the vigil for Öcalan 

  A group of German human rights activists have visited the Freedom for Öcalan vigil in Strasbourg and obtained information about the latest developments in Kurdistan.
• Freedom for Öcalan vigil in Strasbourg in its 326th week 

  The Freedom for Öcalan vigil held in Strasbourg by the Kurds in Europe continues uninterrupted for 6,5 years now.
• Pressure against lawyers grows: 5 arrests 

  Pressure against lawyers continue to grow. Ahmet Mandaci has been arrested, following the arrest of 4 lawyers. Selcuk Kozagacli was battered and detained, to be taken to give a statement.
• 12 lawyers released from prison re-arrested 

  Out of the 17 lawyers who had been released from pre-trial detention on Friday, were re-arrested on Sunday.
• “Where there is no law, there exists resistance" 

  Human rights defender Günseli Suna Kaya has taken part in the popular resistance front against the governments that came to power after the September 12, 1980 coup in Turkey. She says, "Where there is no law, there exists resistance."
• Istanbul Airport: torture for Erdoğan's prestige project 

  According to the Construction Workers' Union, protesters at Istanbul's third airport were tortured by bosses after their arrest.
• Pressure and violations increase after hunger strike in prisons 

  Political prisoners are subjected to more oppression following the hunger strike they went on. Some prisoners in Elazig have been moved to solitary cells. Sick prisoners are unable to receive treatment.
• No asylum for crimes against humanity in Kurdistan 

  The Netherlands Council of State Court rejected a high ranking Turkish soldier’s asylum application for having committed “crimes against humanity in the Kurdistan region” during the 1990’s.
• Hunger strike of prisoners on day 3 

  PKK and PAJK prisoners are on a three-day hunger strike for Öcalan and ill prisoners.
• They don’t want Öcalan to communicate with the people 

  HDP Urfa MP Ömer Öcalan said, “This is a critical time for Kurds. They don’t want Mr. Öcalan to communicate with his own people in any way. This must end.”
• Tamil activists support Vigil demanding freedom for Öcalan 

  The Tamil activists are cycling from London to Geneva demanding justice for their own people.
• Freedom for Öcalan Vigil took over by Drancy activists  

  The Vigil demanding Freedom for Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan has reached week 325 and has been took over by Kurds from Drancy, France.
• PKK and PAJK prisoners have begun hunger strike 

  PKK and PAJK prisoners began today a three-day hunger strike to protest against the isolation regime imposed on Abdullah Öcalan, and to demand the release of ill prisoners
• Academics for Peace trials continue 

  Trials against the academics who signed a petition titled “We won’t be party to this crime” continue. The academics say their manifesto constitutes no crime.
• Violation of rights in Elazig and Kayseri prisons 

  Prisoners are being subjected to heavy abuses and violence in Elazig and Kayseri prisons.
• Lawyer applied to visit Öcalan for 786th time 

  Abdullah Öcalan's lawyers have applied for a visit with their client for the 786th time.