HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• Report on human rights violations in Rojhilat in February 

  Human rights violations against Kurdish civilians and activists in the Kurdish region of Iran continued in February 2024.
• KHRN: Two Kurdish prisoners self-immolate after a raid by prison forces in Urmia 

  Two Kurdish prisoners self-immolated in Urmia Central Prison in protest at their unjust 10-year sentences for alleged “spying for Israel” and the execution of four fellow inmates.
• Kurdish prisoner Türk released after 30 years in jail 

  Kurdish prisoner Mehmet Emin Türk was released after 30 years in Turkish jails.
• HRW: Turkey bears responsibility for abuses and crimes in occupied territories in northern Syria  

  HRW reports abductions, arbitrary arrests, sexual violence, and torture in occupied territories, saying “Turkish officials bear responsibility as the occupying power, and in some cases have been directly involved in apparent war crimes.”
• Next hearing of trial against Saturday Mothers will be held on 7 June 

  The first hearing of the case filed against the Saturday Mothers due to their 950th week protests continued at the Istanbul Courthouse 39th Criminal Court of First Instance. The court set the new hearing on 7 June.
• Kurdish political prisoner takes own life due to torture in Orumiyeh 

  50-year-old Kurdish political prisoner Shahin Gallehdar, who was serving a two-year sentence in Orumiyeh, has ended his life by hanging himself in prison.
• Kurdish prisoners tortured before execution in Iran 

  Three Kurdish prisoners were severely tortured by prison officials in Orumiyeh Central Prison just hours before their execution.
• Saturday Mothers on trial for reclaiming justice and truth 

  The hearing of the trial for the 950th sit-in of the Saturday Mothers will be held in Istanbul today.
• Öcalan’s lawyers: CPT’s approach is not compatible with its duty to prevent conditions of torture 

  Lawyers have no information about the conditions of their clients on Imrali. The last lawyer visit took place in August 2019, and the last sign of life from Imrali was a brief phone call in March 2021. Since then, all contact has been severed.
• Lawyer and human rights defender Çiftçi sent to prison 

  Lawyer and human rights defender Şüheda Ronahi Çiftçi has been imprisoned in the southern province of Antalya. The prosecution accused her of being a member of “a terrorist organization” because of her professional and human rights activities.
• The Iranian regime sentences another Kurdish citizen to death 

  A 27-year-old Kurdish youth was sentenced to death by Iranian regime courts for participating in anti-regime demonstrations in Eastern Kurdistan.
• Guards raid ward of Şakran Women's Closed Prison, insult prisoners 

  In Şakran Women's Closed Prison, more than 30 guards raided the wards, breaking kitchen utensils and the kitchen table.
• Torture in the dungeons of the KDP 

  A prisoner denounces torture and isolation in the dungeons in the KDP-ruled southern Kurdistan, where prisoners are interrogated and blackmailed by Turkish agents.
• HRW urges Turkey to respect humanitarian law and stop targeting civilian infrastructure in NE Syria 

  Turkey’s strikes wreak havoc on North-East Syria, said the HRW, reporting about the intensifying crisis in the region as the world's attention remains fixed on the devastating conflict unfolding in Gaza.
• Hunger strike by political prisoners to demand freedom for Öcalan enters 74th day 

  The hunger strike launched by political prisoners to demand the physical freedom of Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan has reached its 74th day.
• ISIG: At least 158 workers lost their lives in work-related accidents in January 

  At least 5 workers lost their lives every day while working in the first month of 2024, according to a report by the Health and Safety Labor Watch.
• Violent raid in Şakran Women's Closed Prison 

  More than 20 guards raided the wards of Şakran Women's Closed Prison, broke the kitchen utensils and tables where the prisoners sat, and threw medicines on the ground, rendering them unusable.
• ESP goes on solidarity hunger strike: “We are raising our voice” 

  The Socialist Party of the Oppressed started a three-day hunger strike in İzmir in solidarity with the ongoing hunger strikes in prisons and the Justice Vigils started by prisoners' relatives.
• Seriously ill prisoner Karagüzel taken to the hospital 

  Seriously ill prisoner Muhlise Karagüzel, who is in Menemen Prison, was taken to the hospital.
• Mothers take Justice Vigil in front of Parliament  

  Mothers at the Justice Vigil met in front of the Parliament to demand the freedom of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan. Mothers also drew attention to the Great Freedom March.
• Iran does not hand over the bodies of 4 executed Kurds to their families 

  The bodies of the four Kurdish political prisoners executed by the Iranian regime yesterday are not being handed over to their families.
• Hunger strike in prisons enters day 65 

  The hunger strike action launched by PKK-PAJK prisoners in Turkey and Northern Kurdistan jails within the scope of the "Freedom for Leader Öcalan, solution to the Kurdish question" initiative has entered its 65th day.
• KNK strongly condemns Iran’s brutality against the Kurdish people and political prisoners 

  KNK said that Kurdish lives are being sacrificed to serve political interests, with this most recent round of political murders occurring just after Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s visit to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.
• Iran executes 4 Kurdish prisoners  

  Iran executed 4 Kurdish prisoners on allegations of "cooperating with Israel" and "espionage".
• UN High Commissioner for Human Rights urged to ensure accountability during Iran visit 

  Campaign to Free Political Prisoners in Iran expressed deep concerns about the upcoming visit of Ms Al Nashif, the deputy of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to Iran.