HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• Protest over exclusion of ill prisoners from 10th Judicial Reform Package 

  The Mardin branch of the ÖHD and TUHAD-FED criticized the lack of provisions for ill and political prisoners in the new package.
• Turkey among 10 worst countries for workers in 2025 

  The ITUC Global Rights Index rates Turkey among the 10 worst countries for workers in 2025.
• Gergerlioğlu: Prisoners do not trust the State 

  Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu said prisoners are frustrated, believing the state reversed its stance with a weaker-than-expected reform.
• Zeynab Jalalian still denied medical treatment  

  Zeynab Jalalian, who has been imprisoned in Iran for 18 years, is experiencing worsening health conditions, but the prison administration continues to deny her access to medical treatment.
• Lawyer Bilen: Administrative and Observation Boards must be abolished 

  Esra Bilen criticized the board that delayed the release of ill prisoner Akay and called for the complete abolition of these prison committees.
• Condition of ill prisoner Önder Poyraz continues to deteriorate 

  Ill prisoner Önder Poyraz’s health is rapidly deteriorating.
• Appeal of Kurdish activist Kenan Ayaz rejected in Germany 

  The appeal filed by Kurdish politician and activist Kenan Ayaz has been rejected by the German Federal Court of Justice. He is expected to be transferred to Cyprus.
• Mother searching for her son's remains for 29 years to apply to the Human Rights Association 

  79-year-old Nefise Erkek is preparing to apply to the Human Rights Association (İHD) Diyarbakır Branch to find the remains of her son Miğdat Erkek, who was martyred in a clash in the countryside of the city in 1996.
• Eren Keskin: Ill prisoners must be released without delay 

  Eren Keskin welcomed the PKK’s decision to lay down arms but said the state must act.
• ECtHR requests statement from Turkey on civilian killings in basements in Cizre 

  The ECtHR has requested Turkey to submit a statement in the case of civilians killed in the basements in Cizre, Şırnak in 2016. The case concerns possible violations of the right to life during the military siege.
• Leyla Güven: The state must prove its sincerity by releasing ill prisoners  

  The IHD’s 12th congress in Hakkari brought together political parties, civil society groups, and Peace Mothers.
• ESP launches 2-day hunger strike 

  The ESP has launched a two-day hunger strike in Dersim in protest against "pit-type" prisons.
• Torture, strip searches and denial of care in 20 Turkish prisons 

  The Diyarbakir Bar Association, ÖHD, IHD, and TUAY-DER documented torture, forced strip searches, and the denial of medical care in 20 prisons.
• Urgent call from Geneva for Maxmur: UN must act now 

  Kurdish demonstrators gathered in front of the United Nations Office in Geneva to call for international action against the escalating pressure on Maxmur Camp.
• Support grows for 'No to Execution' campaign 

  Political prisoners in 38 jails launched a campaign support across East Kurdistan, Rojhilat.
• IHD Dersim: UN Convention on enforced disappearances must be signed 

  The Human Rights Association Dersim Branch held a statement at Seyit Rıza Square..
• ISIG: At Least 2,728 young workers have died in occupational homicides over the past 12 years 

  The ISIG released a report titled 'Young Workers and Occupational Homicides' covering the period from 2013 to the first four months of 2025.
• Threats from the Prison Director to hunger strikers in Buca 

  Zerdeşt Oduncu has reported that he and others have been on a hunger strike for a week and that they have been threatened by the prison director.
• IHD Diyarbakır General Assembly calls for 'constitutional guarantee' 

  The IHD Diyarbakır branch held its 18th General Assembly, where participants stressed the urgent need for constitutional guarantees.
• DEM Party: Confronting enforced disappearances is vital for peace and democracy 

  The DEM Party emphasized that confronting the enforced disappearances of the past is essential to building peace and a democratic society.
• Saturday Mothers call for confrontation with the past for social peace 

  DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan, who participated in the Saturday Mothers' protest, called for confrontation with the past for social peace and for the demands of the relatives of the disappeared to be met.
• Iran upholds death sentence against famous rapper extradited from Turkey 

  Iran's Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence handed down to Amir Tataloo, a famous Iranian rapper extradited from Turkey, on charges of “blasphemy”.
• Gülseren Yoleri: Restorative justice needed to enable genuine social reconciliation 

  Lawyer Gülseren Yoleri said that all mechanisms of restorative justice must be established for genuine social reconciliation.
• Criminal complaint over torture in Erzincan prison 

  The Amed Bar Association filed a criminal complaint with the Erzincan Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office about strip searches, torture, and ill-treatment that occurred at Erzincan Prison.
• Rihan Gök: Prisoner given cancer drugs without diagnosis 

  Lawyer Rihan Gök said that Imdat Bingöl is being treated with cancer drugs in Erzurum without a proper diagnosis or medical explanation.