HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• Renewed attack on Saturday Mothers in Istanbul 

  After the partly violent break-up of their vigil at Galatasaray Square in Istanbul, the Saturday Mothers were once again attacked by the police in front of the Human Rights Association office.
• Report on mass detentions on 25 April: Judiciary is instrumentalized for political purposes 

  The Association of Lawyers for Freedom and Diyarbakir Bar Association draw attention to the violations of rights and demand the immediate release of their arrested members.
• Saturday Mothers detained again on the 947th week of action 

  In Istanbul, the Saturday Mothers' vigil was once again prevented and at least 10 members of the initiative were taken into custody by the police.
• People in Iran protest execution of three political prisoners 

  People in Iran took to the streets to protest the execution of three political prisoners.
• Struggle of Şenyaşar family continues 

  Emine Şenyaşar and her son Ferit have been holding a Justice Vigil in front of the Courthouse of Urfa since 9 March 2021, demanding those responsible for the massacre of family members in 2018 to be brought to account.
• Buldan commemorates victims of enforced disappearances: We will never give up our fight for justice 

  In a speech marking the International Week of Struggle against Forced Disappearances, HDP Co-Chair Pervin Buldan said: “We have an opportunity to eliminate fascism in the second round of the presidential election.”
• Protest by Xosnav Ata in front of OPCW reaches day 288 

  Defend Kurdistan member Linda Weerts and a delegation from Bashur visited Xosnav Ata, who has been protesting in front of the OPCW in Den Haag for about a year the chemical attacks by the Turkish state.
• 78 percent disabled prisoner in wheelchair is not released 

  Prisoner Nurettin Başaran, who is 78 percent disabled, is not released even though he is wheelchair-bound and taken care of by a caregiver.
• KOMAW members take over Freedom for Öcalan Vigil in Strasbourg 

  KOMAW members took over the Freedom for Öcalan Vigil in Strasbourg.
• Human Rights Association: Enforced disappearance is a policy of annihilation 

  IHD demands that all relevant archives of the state be opened in order to reveal the fate of those who were forcibly disappeared and to identify the perpetrators of the unsolved murders.
• Hearing of Emine Şenyaşar postponed 

  The hearing of Emine Şenyaşar who is accused of "insulting" AKP MP İbrahim Halil Yıldız has been postponed.
• 2022 saw the highest number of executions in five years, says Amnesty International 

  Amnesty International released its annual review of the death penalty, recording the highest number of executions in five years.
• Saturday Mothers: We will vote for democracy and freedom 

  The Istanbul initiative of the Saturday Mothers has formulated clear demands to the new government in the run-up to the parliamentary and presidential elections in Turkey tomorrow.
• French delegation visits Emine Şenyaşar 

  Emine Şenyaşar and her son Ferit  have been holding a Justice Vigil in front of the Courthouse of Urfa since 9 March 2021, demanding those responsible for the massacre of family members to be brought to account.
• Seriously ill political prisoner passes away after release from prison in Amed 

  Abdulhalim Kırtay has died 51 days after his release from prison in Amed. The former political prisoner had been sentenced to life imprisonment and released after thirty years in a terminally ill condition.
• Imrali Peace Delegation visits Öcalan’s lawyers and discusses isolation 

  Members of the International Imrali Peace Delegation visited the lawyers of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and received information about his isolation and the current political situation.
• Court wants Kurdish politician Aysel Tuğluk to present her defense in new trial 

  Kurdish politician Aysel Tuğluk, who was released from prison in October 2022 as she suffers from, is now being forced to make her "defense" in a new lawsuit against her.
• Two people in Iran hanged for burning the Qur'an  

  Two people in Iran were hanged for burning the Qur'an and insulting the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
• ISIG: At least 585 workers lost their lives in first four months of 2023 

  The Occupational Health and Safety Assembly (ISIG) announced that at least 585 workers lost their lives in the first four months of 2023 as a result of occupational homicides.
• Iran executes at least 582 people in 2022 

  The 15th Annual Report on the Death Penalty in Iran, by Iran Human Rights and ECPM reveals the highest annual number of executions since 2015. At least 582 people were executed in 2022.
• Saturday Mothers detained again on the 945th week of action 

  In Istanbul, the Saturday Mothers' vigil was once again prevented and 23 members of the initiative were taken into custody by the police.
• Kurdish politician Ayaz on hunger strike in Cyprus prison denied family visit 

  Kenan Ayaz, detained in Cyprus and facing extradition to Germany, is on an indefinite hunger strike in protest at the action taken against him.
• Mother who received her son's body by post: Do not surrender! 

  Halise Aksoy received her son's bones in a post package in 2020. She was arrested last week. Her first message was "Don't surrender to those in power".
• Kurdish politician in Cyprus custody goes on indefinite hunger strike 

  Kenan Ayaz, detained in Cyprus and facing extradition to Germany, has started an indefinite hunger strike in protest at the action taken against him.
• Trial against the Saturday Mothers opens today in Istanbul 

  The trial against the Saturday Mothers will open today in Istanbul.