HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• Prisoners killed during COVID-19 pandemic protests in Iran 

  In several prisons, live ammunition and tear gas were used to suppress protests, killing around 35 prisoners and injuring hundreds of others, Amnesty International reported.
• Prisoner with cancer is not receiving treatment in Izmir jail 

  Mehmet Salih Filiz, who is in Ödemiş Prison in Izmir, is not treated due to coronavirus epidemic restriction, although he has cancer and tuberculosis.
• Prisoner's mother says enforcement law should include everyone 

  Aysel Ateş' son, Mehmet Veysel Ateş, has been in Diyarbakır D-Type Prison for 6 years. "We do not know the situation of our children - said the mother - during this coronavirus outbreak."
• Female prisoners in Bünyan: Our health is getting worse 

  In a telephone conversation with her family, Merve Aydoğan who is in Kayseri Bünyan Women's Closed Prison, said that she and her three female friends experienced vision loss, problems breathing and dry throat.
• Lawyers’ request for information about Imralı prisoners rejected 

  Turkish authorities continue obstructing any connection with Abdullah Öcalan and three other prisoners in Imralı Island Prison.
• HDP’s Beştaş: Death from Covid-19 has begun in prisons 

  The first Coronavirus related death in prison has been reported in Turkey. HDP politician Meral Danış Beştaş accuses the government of paving the way for mass murder with the planned amendment of the prison law.
• Prisoner dies of coronavirus in Samsun jail 

  It was reported that Mehmet Yeter, 70, who was detained in Samsun Bafra Prison, died last week after having contracted the coronavirus and was buried without his family knowing.
• Report confirms prisoners were beaten after deportation to Amed  

  Prisoners who were deported to Amed prison after the rebellion in Batman jail were battered.
• Call for an equal treatment and immediate release of prisoners 

  After the uprising in Batman’s M-Type prison, lawyers and relatives warn that riots will spread if the political prisoners are not released like the other prisoners because of the pandemic.
• HDP issues a call for Group Yorum 

  “We could not prevent the death of Helin Bölek, but together we may prevent other deaths. Please don’t remain silent. Please act now,” said HDP in a letter to international institutions, parliamentarians and political parties across the world.
• Two imprisoned lawyers on death fast demanding justice 

  The Association of Contemporary Lawyers (ÇHD) announced that of the four lawyers who have been on hunger strike in prison, two have gone on death fast.
• MED TUHAD-FED calls on people to raise their voice for prisoners 

  MED TUHAD-FED urged all democratic people to be sensitive and to raise their voices for an equal and fair execution law which doesn't exclude political prisoners from the new measures to be taken due to the coronavirus emergency.
• Hundreds of prisoners deported after Batman riot 

  The fire in the wards was extinguished and the prisoners were attacked with tear gas.
• MED TUHAD-FED: Isolation must be lifted 

  MED TUHAD-FED reiterated that isolation should be removed immediately and Öcalan's efforts for peace should be supported.
• Prisoner Kaya brought back to jail despite suffering from stroke 

  Sabri Kaya, who was treated at Osmaniye State Hospital for 10 days as a result of a heart attack and brain hemorrhage, has been brought back to prison.
• Prisoners in the Aegean region are exposed to great risks 

  TUHAY-DER co-chairs warned that prisons in the Aegean region are at great risk due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and said that Öcalan and all politicians should be released.
• UK Foreign Minister asked to raise issue of prisoners in Turkey 

  Peace in Kurdistan Campaign wrote to Foreign Secretary Raab and said they were deeply concerned about the situation for political prisoners in Turkey.
• IHD reiterates that ill prisoners must be released immediately 

  "As seriously ill prisoners face a much more serious risk in case of an epidemic disease, we request their release by deferring the execution of their prison sentences," said the IHD in a statement.
• A prison in Gümüşhane quarantined after detection of Coronavirus 

  A prisoner in Gümüşhane E Type Closed Prison told his family that the jail has been quarantined after the detection of Coronavirus pandemic.
• Organisations in Malatya warn of coronavirus risk for prisoners 

  Parties, civil society associations and foundations in Malatya listed what needs to be done against the coronavirus epidemic and drew attention to the risk in prisons.
• International call for the release of prisoners in Turkey 

  The undersigned organisations called on the Turkish authorities to immediately and unconditionally release journalists, human rights defenders and others who have been charged or convicted simply for exercising their rights.
• Women prisoners in Bayburt denounce heavy harassment  

  Arbitrary practices, threats and pressures against female political prisoners have increased in Bayburt M Type Women's Closed Prison.
• Social media campaign demands lifting of embargo against Maxmur 

  A campaign has ben launched on social media to demand the lifting of the embargo against Maxmur camp.
• MED TUHAD-FED launches signature campaign for prisoners 

  MED TUHAD-FED is launching a petition with the support of political parties, civil society and labor organizations to demand the same right to a sentence reduction for all prisoners.
• MED TUHAD-FED releases report on prisons 

  The report underlined that urgent measures should be taken in prisons to prevent the spread of coronavirus.