HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• Journalist denied treatment for speaking Kurdish 

  The medical examination of jailed journalist Zeynel Bulut was blocked by the Turkish military after he explained his complaint in Kurdish.
• Forced disappearances protested in Berlin 

  Activists protested forced disappearances in Berlin as part of the 17-31 May International Week of Struggle against Forced Disappearances.
• New ban on lawyers and family visits imposed on Abdullah Öcalan 

  A new ban on lawyers and family visits was imposed on Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan.
• International Week for the Fight Against Disappearances ends with event at Human Rights Association 

  The last event of the 17-31 May International Week for the Fight Against Disappearances was held at the IHD.
• Hakkari Bar Association demands punishment for torture 

  Following the brutal arrest and ill-treatment of youths in Yüksekova, the Hakkari Bar Association calls for an investigation into violations of the ban on torture.
• At least 153 died in custody in El Salvador 

  At least 153 people died in custody in El Salvador, says a human rights report on the controversial ‘war on gangs’ waged by the president.
• Families of Mazlum Dağ and Abdurrahman Er demand visit to be granted 

  The families of Mazlum Dağ and Abdurrahman Er, who are held in Hewlêr Prison by the KDP forces, demanded a visit be granted.
• Italian delegation denied visit to Maxmur 

  An Italian delegation has been denied entry to Maxmur Camp.
• Religious scholar Alkan condemns cruelty to the mortal remains of guerrillas 

  Religious scholar Abdullah Alkan condemned the non-delivery of guerrilla bodies and the inhuman treatment against mortal remains and families of victims.
• Saturday Mothers attacked and detained again on the 948th week of action for the disappeared 

  In Istanbul, the Saturday Mothers' vigil was once again violently prevented and at least 18 members of the initiative were taken into custody by the police.
• Rojbin Çetin sentenced to ten years in prison 

  The Kurdish politician and activist Sevil Rojbin Çetin has been sentenced to ten years in prison for membership of the PKK. When she was arrested, the Kurdish woman was severely tortured.
• Families of Imrali prisoners apply for a visit 

  The families of Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan and the other prisoners on Imrali applied to the Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and the Imrali Prison Directorate for a meeting with their relatives.
• Turkey has highest prevalence of modern slavery in Europe and Central Asia, says report 

  According to the Global Slavery Index published by the Australian human rights organization Walk Free, Turkey has the highest prevalence of modern slavery in Europe and Central Asia.
• Son of seriously ill prisoner Mehmet Emin Özkan released from jail 

  The son of seriously ill prisoner Mehmet Emin Özkan, who has been in jail with him for 5 years, has been released. Özkan's first words were "My father should be released".
• Former Kurdish political prisoner sentenced to jail term in Iran 

  The Iranian regime’s repression of the Kurdish population continues unabated.
• Lawyers request visit with Öcalan and other prisoners in Imrali 

  Lawyers from the Asrın Law Office applied to Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and Imralı Prison Directorate with a request to meet with their client, Abdullah Öcalan.
• HDP Co-Chair Sancar visits Emine Şenyaşar 

  Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair Mithat Sancar visited Emine Şenyaşar, who has been carrying out a justice vigil for her murdered family members for over two years, at her house in Urfa province.
• Suspicious death of a student in Bitlis 

  Officials of a student accommodation in Bitlis said that a young boy called Habip Sivi committed suicide, but the family of the Kurdish student does not believe in the suicide hypothesis, and said that their second request for an autopsy was refused.
• Kurdish workers detained and beaten by police in Kadıköy talk about their experience 

  Kurdish workers, who were detained under torture and released on condition of judicial control while sitting on the beach of Kadıköy, said that they "we were beaten at the police station, and threatened us not to ask for a battering report."
• 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.”