HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• Families of Öcalan and other prisoners in Imrali once again apply for a visit 

  Families of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan and of the other prisoners in Imralı have submitted new applications for a visit.
• HRW: Turkish border guards torture, kill Syrians 

  “Turkish gendarmes and armed forces in charge of border control routinely abuse and indiscriminately shoot at Syrians along the Syrian-Turkish border, with hundreds of deaths and injuries recorded in recent years,” said HRW Director Hugh Williamson.
• International groups demand release of Kurdish journalists, lawyers, party officials  

  International groups demand the release of Kurdish journalists, lawyers, and political party officials arrested in Turkey in a pre-election crackdown.
• Lawyers: If no voice is raised against the crackdown, it will spread all over Turkey 

  The Association of Lawyers for Freedom condemned Tuesday’s mass detentions, warning that: "If no voice is raised against the crackdown, it will spread all over Turkey."
• HRW calls on Turkey to free, end harassment of journalists, party officials, lawyers 

  International groups demand the release of Kurdish journalists, lawyers, and political party officials arrested in a pre-election crackdown in Turkey.
• MAF-DAD expresses solidarity with lawyers detained in Turkey: "We will fight together" 

  “MAF-DAD stands in solidarity with all detained lawyers who face intense pressure while practicing their profession in an honorable manner and fighting for the principles of law and human rights. We are with them in their legal struggle."
• Human Rights Watch: Security forces in Iran kill, torture, abuse children 

  Iran’s security forces repressing widespread protests have unlawfully killed, tortured, sexually assaulted, and disappeared children as part of a pattern of serious violations, says HRW.
• 33 bar associations call for restrictions imposed on lawyers and other detainees to be lifted 

  33 bar associations called for the ban on lawyers and the restrictions imposed on the over 150 people taken into custody on Tuesday to be lifted.
• Kenan Ayaz: My extradition to Germany would be a gift to Erdogan 

  Kurdish activist Kenan Ayaz, imprisoned in Cyprus at the instigation of Germany, stated that none of his activities could be construed as terrorist and that his extradition would be an electoral gift for Erdogan.
• Justice Vigil of Şenyaşar family on day 761 

  Today marks the 761st day of the Şenyaşar family’s vigil for justice.
• Many detained in police attack on vigil by Saturday Mothers 

  In Istanbul, the Saturday Mothers' vigil was once again prevented and 17 members of the initiative were taken into custody.
• Seriously ill prisoner Gulistan Abdo not treated 

  Gulistan Abdo, a seriously ill political prisoner in Gebze Prison, whose left leg was amputated due to gangrene for years after she was caught injured in 1994, has to live with platinum for the rest of her life. She has been in jail for 29 years.
• Lawyers and families of Öcalan and other prisoners in Imrali apply for visit 

  The lawyers and families of Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan and other prisoners in Imralı applied for a visit on the occasion of the end of Ramadan.
• Ill prisoners in Edirne F Type undergo surgery in handcuffs 

  Prisoners in Edirne F Type jail are subjected to torture and violations of their rights. Ill prisoners have surgery in handcuffs, and are kept in isolation.
• Ministry of Justice says "unforeseeable reasons" responsible for two-year silence from Imrali 

  The Turkish Ministry of Justice, in the justification it submitted to the Constitutional Court regarding the isolation in Imrali, argued that there was no "ill-treatment", and that visits were interrupted due to "unforeseeable reasons".
• Criminal complaint against soldiers who tortured a lawyer in Hatay 

  Legal organizations in Izmir filed a criminal complaint against soldiers who tortured a lawyer in earthquake-hit Hatay province in southern Turkey.
• 68 female prisoners urge the CPT to stop deaths in Turkey’s prisons 

  In a letter, 68 women prisoners urged the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) “to stop deaths in Turkey’s prisons as soon as possible.”
• Şenyaşar family: "We will bring democracy and justice to the country together on 14 May" 

  Emine and Ferit Şenyaşar said on the 755th day of their Vigil for Justice: "We will bring democracy and justice to the country together on 14 May".
• Family of Lokman Görgün applies to IHD after his extra judicial execution 

  The family of Lokman Görgün, the father of 8 children who was executed in Mardin and accused of being a “PKK member” by the Turkish authorities, applied to the Human Rights Association (IHD).
• 12 detained as police attack Saturday Mothers in Istanbul 

  Despite a ruling by the Turkish Constitutional Court, Istanbul police again attacked the Saturday Mothers' demonstration at Galatasaray Square and detained twelve people.
• IHD co-chair taken into custody 

  IHD co-chair Eren Keskin was reportedly detained because of her social media posts.
• Number of executions in Iran rose sharply in 2022 

  According to the human rights organisation Iran Human Rights, at least 582 people were executed in 2022, a 75% increase compared to 2021.
• Earthquake survivor asks help for her blind son 

  Earthquake survivor Aylin Mutlu requested help to get a new eye prosthesis for her 9-year-old son who was born blind in the left eye.
• Society for Threatened Peoples calls for protection and support for Iraq's Mandaean community 

  The Society for Threatened Peoples has called for protection and support for Iraq's Mandaean community. There are about 100,000 believers in this religion worldwide, which is related to John the Baptist.
• Amnesty International: HDP closure would violate rights to freedom of expression and association 

  Amnesty International said in a statement that the "HDP closure would violate rights to freedom of expression and association."