HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• Sit-in in Geneva protests evacuation attempt of Lavrio refugee camp 

  The sit-in held in front of the UN Office demanding freedom for Abdullah Öcalan called on everyone to attend the central march to be held in Lausanne on 22 July.
• Kurdish writer Yaşar Aslan released after 30 years in prison 

  Kurdish writer Yaşar Aslan called for increased resistance as soon as he stepped out of prison after thirty years.
• Three patriots from Germany take over Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan Vigil in Strasbourg  

  Three patriots from Germany took over the Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan Vigil in Strasbourg on its 576th week.
• Prisoner Asım Demir not released despite serving his full sentence 

  Hediye Demir, wife of prisoner Asım Demir said that the release of her husband has been postponed for the second time. Demir has been in prison for 30 years.
• United in the search for justice 

  Families of those who lost their lives in the bomb attack carried out by ISIS on 20 July 2015 at the Amara Cultural Center in Suruç visited the Şenyaşar family.
• Prisoner Ecer talks about the violations of rights in Espiye prison 

  Prisoner Abdullah Ecer talked about the inhumane practices in Espiye Prison, and said: "We want a human rights delegation to closely monitor the violations we are subjected to here."
• At least 354 people executed in Iran in six months 

  According to Iran Human Rights statistics, at least 354 people were executed across Iran, a sharp rise compared to the same period last year; 261 people were executed in the first six months of 2022 and 121 in 2021. This is a 36% rise compared to 2022.
• Dev Yapı İş and İnşaat İş unions: We fight against conditions of slavery at construction sites 

  Dev Yapı İş and İnşaat İş unions are fighting together against the conditions of slavery at construction sites. Both unions say that they fight against usurpation of rights in this sector.
• 30 years ago today, the Sivas massacre 

  30 years ago today, 35 people, mostly of the Alevi faith, were killed in an Islamist-nationalist pogrom at the Madımak Hotel in Sivas.
• Saturday Mothers attacked and detained again in the 953rd week of action 

  Saturday Mothers in Istanbul have again been attacked by the police. Among those detained in the crackdown are the former HDP MP Oya Ersoy and Armenian journalist Arat Dink.
• New violations of rights in Bodrum S-Type Prison 

  The AKP-MHP government reduced the four-course meals in Bodrum S-Type Prison to two.
• IHD: LGBTIQ activist faces deportation to Iran 

  An LGBTIQ activist from Iran is facing deportation to his home country. According to the IHD, Elyas Torabiba-Eskandari was detained on Sunday at a Pride parade in Istanbul. Since then, he has been in custody pending deportation.
• Demir: Solidarity can end the isolation imposed on prisons and Öcalan 

  MA TUHAY-DER co-chair Dilek Sömez Demir pointed out that the basis of violations in prisons is isolation and said: "If we show solidarity, we can lift the isolation imposed on prisons and Abdullah Öcalan."
• Political prisoner behind bars for 30 years denied release due to "lack of remorse" 

  Despite 30 years in prison, political prisoner Asım Demir is denied release. The reason given for the second suspension of release is "lack of remorse".
• Şenyaşar family: Feast of Sacrifice without justice 

  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.
• Human Rights Watch condemns mass detentions at Pride marches 

  Human Rights Watch condemned the detention of 113 people attending a Pride march in Istanbul on 25 June.
• Conditions in Turkish prisons are becoming increasingly heavier 

  Conditions in Turkish prisons are becoming increasingly dramatic. Prisoners fall ill because of the prison conditions and die in prison because they are refused release.
• 83 suspicious deaths in prisons, 4,275 cases of torture in custody in Turkey 

  TİHV, the İHD and the TTB Human Rights Branch announced that 83 'suspicious deaths' in prisons and 4,275 torture and ill-treatment cases in custody had been reported in 2022.
• IHD and TIHV: Öcalan’s isolation causes serious concerns in society 

  Istanbul Representative of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TIHV) Ümit Efe said that the isolation of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan caused serious concerns in society.
• Asrın Law Office calls for an end to torture in Imrali 

  In a statement concerning the absolute isolation imposed on Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, the Asrın Law Office called for an end to incommunicado and torture practices in Imrali.
• HDP: Turkey systematically violates the prohibition of torture 

  In a statement on the occasion of the International Day against Torture, the Law and Human Rights Commission of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) said that Turkey systematically violated the prohibition of torture.
• Situation of hunger strikers Dağ and Er worsening 

  The situation of Mazlum Dağ and Abdurrahman Er, who have been on an indefinite non-alternating hunger strike against the imposition to wear uniforms in Hewler Prison, for 38 days, is deteriorating.
• 88-year-old severely disabled prisoner denied release 

  88-year-old Abdülalim Kaya continues to be held as a political prisoner despite an expert opinion that he is severely disabled by 91 per cent.
• 28 detained in police crackdown on Saturday Mothers in Istanbul 

  Turkish police have once again prevented the weekly vigil by Saturday Mothers in Istanbul and detained at least 28 members and supporters of the initiative.
• Amnesty International calls for urgent action for 7 Kurds sentenced to death in Iran 

  Amnesty International called for urgent action for 7 Kurds sentenced to death by the Iranian state. A petition was also launched.