HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• Iraqi President Salih sent draft bill on genocide against Yazidis 

  Iraqi President Barham Salih sent a draft bill to parliament that would classify atrocities committed by ISIS against Yazidi women as “genocide”.
• IHD: There are 743 children with their mothers in prisons 

  IHD Amed Chapter Minors Commission pointed out that the Turkish state has violated international treaties and said: “There are at least 743 children with their mothers in prisons.”
• ÖHD Prison Commission announced report on hunger strikes 

  ÖHD co-chair lawyer Raziye Turgut pointed out that the prisoners who have been on hunger strike since 16 December have already overcome the critical stage.
• At least 108 people died at work in Turkey in March 

  At least 108 people were killed at work in March in Turkey. Eleven of those killed are migrants from Afghanistan, Syria and Turkmenistan.
• Mesopotamian Water Forum kicked off in Sulaymaniyah 

  The Mesopotamian Water Forum is based on the social forum model, and is part of the global world social forum process.
• Irish boycott of Eurovision Song Contest in Israel 

  Protests have been taking place to convince Irish state broadcaster RTÉ to withdraw from this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Israel over its attacks against the Palestinian people.
• Zehra Doğan dedicated award to hunger strikers 

  Index on Censorship has awarded journalist Zehra Doğan the Freedom of Expression Award. Doğan dedicated her award to the hunger strikers.
• Heyva Sor a Kurdistanê and CIK launched aid campaign for Rojhilat 

  It has been 17 days since the calamity started, but the regime continues to obscure the true extent of the floods.
• Prison warden threatens hunger strikers 

  Patnos Type L Closed Prison’s Second Warden threatened to kill the hunger strikers.
• PJAK prisoners in Iran go on hunger strike against isolation 

  Solidarity with the hunger strike resistance against the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan is growing.
• IHD published preliminary report on violations on elections day 

  Many violations have been reported in Kurdistan and Turkey during the local elections. 
• TOHAV: Urgent appeal to CPT and UN on hunger strikes 

  The Istanbul-based TOHAV Foundation is appealing to the CPT and the UN to travel to Turkey for an emergency visit regarding the isolation imposed on Öcalan and hunger strikes by Kurdish prisoners.
• Saturday Mothers demand justice for Hasan Ocak 

  Hasan Ocak disappeared on 21 March 1995. His family is seeking justice and the truth for  24 years.
• Mothers urge the government to accept hunger strikers' demand 

  "We will continue to support our children. We call on everyone to be the voice of the prisoners and to urge the government to accept their demand.”
• Hunger strikers threatened in Silivri Prison 

  Hunger striker Erdoğan Zamur was released from Silivri Prison and said that fasting prisoners are under threats and in very bad hygienic conditions.
• Thousands of hunger strikers ask Turkey to comply with its laws 

  "To open the way for peace, the demands of the activists who lay their bodies into starvation, should be heard immediately, and the discriminatory language should be abandoned.”
• New appeal to visit Ocalan and other prisoners in Imralı 

  The Kurdish Leader, Abdullah Öcalan, has been denied meeting with his lawyers since 2011.
• Swedish MEP Malin Björk met with the CPT on Öcalan 

  Malin Björk said the CPT has informed her that they are in contact with Turkey on the issue of isolation and that they could, however, not reveal the content of the talks.
• Prisoners on hunger strike: Whatever the price, we will continue! 

  "A life should be free. We are not interested in any way of life except an honorable and free life.”
• 138 political prisoners on hunger strike in Patnos 

  More prisoners are joining the hunger strike resistance against the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan.
• Lawyer Uysal: No answer from international institutions on Imralı 

  Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan has been in isolation in Imralı Prison for 20 years. The Turkish state has tried to justify isolation and the inhuman and degrading treatment of Öcalan under the so called ‘Imralı Execution Regime’.
• Family of Imralı prisoner Aktaş: End isolation and talk peace 

  Family of Veysi Aktaş, one of the prisoners in Imralı, said that they were worried as they have no news about him and said that they wanted isolation to be removed immediately and the hunger strike to grow.
• HDP: AKP remains indifferent to the demand of hunger strikers 

  The AKP Government remains indifferent to this rightful and legal demand that invites Turkey to comply with its laws and international conventions to which it is a signatory.
• Constitutional Court: Freedom of communication violated in Imrali 

  The Constitutional Court convened to assess an appeal by Veysi Aktas, who is currently imprisoned in the Imrali island. The court ruled that “freedom of communication has been violated”.
• Prisoner Şeker: On hunger strike until isolation is lifted 

  Political prisoner Şevket Şeker who is on hunger strike stated that no vitamins are given to prisoners on hunger strike, especially the important B1.