HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• 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.
• British unions endorsed Freedom for Öcalan campaign 

  The 150th Congress of the British Union Trade Union (TUC) has begun on Monday.
• Van Court sentenced Kurdish politicians to prison - NEW 

  A Court in Van has overruled the sentence by the Court of Cassation.
• Cyprus received record number of refugees 

  Cyprus appealed to the EU after record number of refugee arrivals on its shores.
• Bodies of three Kurdish activists executed not given to families 

  The bodies of three Kurdish activists executed on Saturday in Iran have not been given to their families for burial.
• HDP Women's Council condemned Iranian execution of Kurds 

  HDP Women's Council condemned the Iranian regime execution of Kurdish activists. 
• Political Prisoners: Hunger strike against isolation 

  Three-day hunger strike to protest against the isolation regime imposed on Kurdish People’s Leader, Abdullah Öcalan, and to demand the release of ill prisoners.
• Demonstration in solidarity with Saturday Mothers in Basel 

  A demonstration was held in the Claraplatz Square on the HDK-Basel Women’s Assembly’s call.