HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• Violations and torture reported in prisons in Black Sea region 

  Van Bar prepared a report of violations of rights in prisons in the Black Sea region. The report also stated that the prisoner named Metin Aktin has been on hunger strike since 13 February.
• IHD: Turkey is committing serious crimes in refugee crisis 

  "It is a great crime to take refugees to the borders and risky crossing points without consensus, considering the deaths already experienced,” said the Human Rights Association (IHD).
• AI: Inhumane asylum measures in Greece will put lives at risk 

  Amnesty International:"The inhumane measures which the Greek authorities are taking to prevent people from entering the country are an appalling betrayal of Greece’s human rights responsibilities and will put the lives of people fleeing violence at risk."
• IHD: Sick prisoners are left to die 

  The 414th "F-Session" of the Human Rights Association (IHD) in Istanbul focused today on the situation of Ali Gülmez. The political prisoner is seriously ill, but his release is still being refused by the judicial authorities.
• Saturday Mothers: Where is the body of Cüneyt Aydınlar? 

  At today's rally of the Saturday Mothers in Istanbul, the fate of Cüneyt Aydınlar has been asked. The 23-year-old student disappeared in February 1994 after his arrest by state forces.
• Parents of prisoner on death fast arrested again 

  Koçak went on a hunger strike demanding a fair trial and turned his protest on the 90th day into death fast which is on day 242.
• HDP: The AKP uses refugees as a political tool 

  "The AKP uses refugees as weapons. The AKP will be responsible for any death," said HDP Immigration and Refugees Commission Gülsüm Ağaoğlu.
• Political prisoner is on death fast to protest against torture 

  "They took me to another ward by force. The guards tortured me. That's why I have been on death fast for 4 days."
• Report on rights violations in Afyon jail published 

  Rights organizations prepared a report on torture in Afyon T Type Closed Prison. In the report, it was exposed that the prison director told guards: "Torture is free. Beat but do not leave a trace."
• House of an elderly couple stormed with seven helicopters in Lice 

  With seven helicopters, the Turkish army landed in a village in Lice to arrest a man wanted for alleged "terror charges". Because he was not found, soldiers mistreated his 66- and 78-years old parents.
• Lawyers of the Asrın Law Office apply to the CPT  

  Asrın Law Office has applied to the CPT (Committee for the Prevention of Torture) regarding the violations in the right to visit with families and lawyers against Abdullah Öcalan and Ömer HayriKonar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş.
• ECtHR rejects application for political prisoner without hands 

  Political prisoner Ergin Aktaş has been certified five times that he cannot remain in custody. Nevertheless he is to serve a life sentence in isolation. In the opinion of the ECHR this is justified.
• IHD Van issues report on rights violations in the city's prisons 

  IHD Van Branch has prepared a report on the violations of rights in the city's prisons.
• Amnesty International report denounces crimes in North-East Syria 

  Civilian massacres, indiscriminate attacks, confiscation and looting of property, arbitrary detention, torture and other ill-treatment, summary killings and abduction documented by Amnesty International in North-East Syria.
• TUHAD-FED: A strong opposition can defend the rights of prisoners 

  Med TUHAD-FED co-chair Mehmet Temizyüz said that the government thinks to have closed all the doors and left out social problems. Instead, he added, a strong opposition could open all doors.
• IHD's Melet: Van has become a city of prohibitions 

  IHD Van Branch chair Murat Melet stated that Van has become a city of prohibitions and said that bans are not governor-bound, but are the will of the political executive.
• TUHAY-DER's Başak denounces rights violations in jails 

  Kinyas Başak from TUHAY-DER Van Branch said that the rights violations in prisons have gone beyond isolation and reached the level of torture.
• TUHAYDER: Isolation in Imrali turns into fascism in Turkey 

  TUHAYDER association condemned the Imrali isolation.
• Deportation and torture exposed in Tekirdağ prison 

  Political prisoners who were deported from Tekirdağ T Type Prison, which is planned to be converted into a woman and child prison, were subjected to harassment and strip searches.
• Call for better protection of children in conflict zones 

  The Security Council unanimously approved a declaration condemning violations of international law related to children.
• Protest musicians on death fast since June in critical condition 

  Musicians should not be in prison because of singing songs, says the HDP.
• Refugees frozen to death in Van cannot be reached 

  Local officials said that in the district of Çaldıran, 13 refugees were reported to have died and that teams would be sent again as the weather conditions improved.
• HDP: Refugee tragedy is a disgrace for humanity 

  The HDP described the freezing to death of 13 refugees in Van as a "disgrace to humanity". The governments of Turkey and Iran are primarily responsible for the deaths in the border region, the party said.
• IHD highlights situation of ill prisoners 

  A weekly action was held in Istanbul and Ankara to draw attention to the conditions of ill prisoners. In particular, the action underlined the situation of seriously ill prisoners Siti Gören and Medeni Tarlan.
• Saturday Mothers: Where is the body of Maksut Tepeli? 

  27-year-old teacher Maksut Tepeli was tortured to death in Istanbul 36 years ago. His body is still missing today. The Istanbul Saturday Mothers demand that the perpetrators be punished.