Human Rights

Latest News

• 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.
• Repression on prisoners on hunger strike increased 

  While the ban on the prisoners' letter continues, the deposit of the money into the account of the prisoners is also prevented by the prison administration.
• Death on workplace increased in Turkey 

  Every day 5 workers died in Turkey for work-related accidents.
• Prisoners on hunger strike in Bandirma attacked 

  Political prisoners on hunger strikes in the Bandirma Type T Closed Prison No.1 were attacked by the prison guards.
• Appeal for family visit to Imralı rejected again 

  The request of the families of the Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and the other three prisoners on Imralı to visit their relatives was again rejected.
• 331 prisoners on indefinite non-alternating hunger strikes 

  Acording to Lawyers for Freedom Association (OHD) data, indefinite non-alternating hunger strikes have been launched in 66 prisons since December 16. Their list includes names of 331 prisoners.
• HDP report on Turkey’s prisons 

  The number of detainees and convicts in Turkey has doubled in the last 10 years and the number of prisons has increased by almost half.
• PKK and PAJK prisoners to go on hunger strike in all prisons 

  PKK and PAJK prisoners announced that they will be going on a hunger strike on March 1 in all prisons until the isolation is broken. The prisoners said, “Lend your voice to our rising resistance, let’s tear down fascism.”
• Saturday Mothers met for 726th time in Istanbul  

  The Saturday Mothers, who have been demanding truth and justice for their relatives and friends who disappeared while in State forces’ custody met for the 726th time in Istanbul.