HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• CISST publishes interactive "Prisons Map"  

  The Civil Society in the Penal System Association has released an interactive "Prisons Map" to facilitate public access to data about prisons.
• Kurdish political prisoner Ayçiçek released after 17 years in jail 

  Kurdish political prisoner Ayfer Ayçiçek, who was convicted of PKK membership, has been released after 17 years in prison. She was greeted by relatives and friends in front of Gebze women's prison with flowers and songs.
• Ill political prisoner dies after being sent to hospital 

  Seriously ill political prisoner Yıldırım Han has died in a hospital in Ankara.
• Demir: Don't look away, be the voice of ill prisoners 

  The co-chair of the prisoner support association MATUHADER, Dilek Sönmez Demir, warned that the lives of ill political prisoners in Turkey are at risk due to double standards and arbitrary decisions.
• A prisoner in Van was not treated and died of a heart attack 

  Mecit Yılmaz, a common prisoner in Van T Type Closed Prison, was sent back to the ward without treatment from the infirmary where he was taken on Monday and died as a result of a heart attack.
• Lower Saxony minister wants to end deportation of Yazidis 

  Lower Saxony's Interior Minister Daniela Behrens (SPD) called for a broad stop to deportations of members of the Yazidi minority to Iraq.
• Prisoners continue their protest demanding "Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan" 

  Prisoners continue to refuse to appear in court and to boycott phone calls and family visits, demanding "Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan and a solution to the Kurdish question."
• TIHV: 781 people denounced torture and harassment in 2023 

  According to the report published by the TIHV, in 2023, 781 people applied to the foundation stating that they were tortured and ill-treated, and 6 people lost their lives during the detention process.
• Anti-terror police raid Karabük Prison 

  Karabük T Type Closed Prison, where 15 prisoners are arbitrarily denied release with the imposition of "remorse" despite the fact that their sentences are over, continues to be on the agenda with its torture methods.
• Health of seriously ill prisoner Devrim Ayık worsening 

  The health of seriously ill prisoner Devrim Ayık, who is 76 percent disabled, is quickly deteriorating. His mother, Hülya Ayık, requested that he be transferred to Antalya Prison for treatment or released.
• Canpolat calls for massive action in front of prisons on 21 June 

  TUHAD-FED co-chair Kerem Canpolat called for massive action in front of the prisons on 21 June.
• Prisoner Özhan released after 30 years  

  Fahrettin Özhan, who was held in Diyarbakır No. 1 High Security Closed Prison, was released after 30 years. Özhan said: "I left, but my friends are still inside. One day we will come and take them too."
• ‘There is no justice left in the courthouses’ 

  Legal organisations in İzmir said, “Security and judiciary organisations are constantly rearranged according to the daily needs of the AKP. There is no justice left in the courthouses.”
• ÖHP applies to Van Bar Association regarding İmralı isolation 

  ÖHD applied to the Van Bar Association after no response was given to its application to the Ministry of Justice regarding the İmralı isolation.
• Police harassment and threats of IHD Izmir co-chair Gümüş condemned 

  The harassment and threats against IHD Izmir branch co-chair Zilan Gümüş by the police were condemned.
• 40 prisoners in Antalya S Type jail sentenced to 11 days of solitary confinement  

  40 prisoners in Antalya S Type Closed Prison were sentenced to 11 days of solitary confinement each for their actions against oppression and violations of rights.
• ISIG: At least 695 children killed at work since 2013 

  According to ISIG's report on working children, at least 695 children have been killed at work since 2013. Most of the deaths took place in Urfa.
• Prisoners' action for Öcalan reaches 200th day 

  The Freedom for Öcalan action carried out by prisoners has reached its 200th day.
• Ill prisoner Ayık talks about violations in jails  

  Ill prisoner Devrim Ayık talked about the violations in jails and the health problems he experienced. Ayık said that despite his health condition deteriorating, his transfer request was rejected due to disciplinary penalties.
• 'The law on İmralı and its status are unclear' 

  Speaking at a panel in Urfa, Özgür Erol, a member of Asrin Law Office, described the İmralı island, where Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan has been held since 1999, as ‘the first place whose status and the law under which it is administered is unclear'.
• Release of ill prisoner Atsız postponed for the second time 

  The release of Sedat Atsız, an ill prisoner who was held captive for 30 years, was postponed for the second time. Atsız's family applied to IHD against these rights violations.
• Cemal Yıldız and Eren Tekin released from Izmir Şakran prison after 32 years of captivity 

  Prisoners Cemal Yıldız and Eren Tekin were released from Izmir Şakran jail after 32 years of captivity. They were sentenced to life in prison for “undermining the unity and integrity of the state” by a State Security Court (DGM).
• Relatives of the disappeared to meet in Amed today for the 800th time 

  Relatives of the disappeared will meet for the 800th time in Amed today. IHD and families called for solidarity.
• International legal organisations request urgent UN action in the case of Tahir Elçi 

  International legal organisations draw attention to the disappearance of important evidence and the protection of police officers in the Tahir Elçi case.
• Hatem Özdemir appeals death sentence to higher Iranian court  

  HPG guerrilla Hatem Özdemir, who was sentenced by an Iranian court to death after being captured in 2019 in the Maku district of Eastern Kurdistan, appealed to a higher court and objected to the decision.