HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• Conscientious objector Zana Aksu sentenced to imprisonment 

  Conscientious objector and human rights activist Zana Aksu has been sentenced to 18 months in prison and fined 10,000 TL for refusing to obey orders by a Turkish court in Siirt.
• CoE Committee of Ministers urges Turkey ro release Demirtaş and Kavala 

  The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has decided to wait for Osman Kavala’s release before imposing sanctions on Turkey; it has also extended the time given to the government about Demirtaş till September 30.
• 83-year-old seriously ill prisoner Özkan remains in jail 

  83-year-old seriously ill prisoner Mehmet Emin Özkan was not released. The new hearing was held on Thursday. Özkan has been in prison for 25 years.
• ‘Law enforcement officers are well aware of the policy of impunity’ 

  Amed Bar Association Child Rights Centre head Emin Gün said that there are law enforcement officers who are very aware of the policy of impunity and added that there is no government official convicted for murders caused by armoured police vehicles.
• Family of man killed by Iranian soldiers still waiting for a statement on the murder 

  The family of 25-year-old Rüstem Çakmak, who was killed by Iranian soldiers in his village in Şemdinli a month ago, has not even been given a statement. This was not the first murder committed in the border regions of Hakkari.
• Mother Şenyaşar calls for support from lawyers 

  Emine Şenyaşar has called for support from all lawyers for her continuing resistance.
• ECtHR finds right violations in the detention of former mayor of Siirt 

  Pre-trial detention of the mayor of a city in south-east Turkey was unjustified and breached his right to freedom of expression, ruled the ECtHR on Tuesday.
• IHD Van chair calls to end impunity on the case of 2 villagers thrown from military helicopter 

  IHD Van branch chair, Mehmet Karataş, said that the investigation into the torture of 2 villagers being thrown from a military helicopter in Çatak was not properly carried out and called for an end to impunity.
• Cihad Hesen still in the hands of Hewler authorities after 97 days 

  The Autonomous Administration Hewler representative, Cihad Hesen, has not yet been released and the authorities have given no news about him for 97 days.
• Prisoners continue hunger strike against isolation 

  The hunger strike of the political prisoners in Turkey’s prisons against the Imrali isolation marks its 290th day. The solidarity hunger strikes in Maxmur and Greece also continue.
• Health of 72 detainees on death fast in Behdinan worsening 

  The health of 72 detainees, who went on death fast in Behdinan on 6 September, was said to have worsened. Activists issued a call to the South Kurdistan authorities.
• "Children are deprived of their basic right to life" 

  In Northern Kurdistan, children are repeatedly killed by armored cars driving at high speed through residential neighborhoods. Child rights activist Meltem Akboğa believes that these are neither isolated incidents nor accidents.
• Prisoners continue hunger strike against isolation 

  The hunger strike of the political prisoners in Turkey’s prisons against the Imrali isolation marks its 289th day. The solidarity hunger strikes in Maxmur and Greece also continue.
• A year after the 'helicopter incident', lawyers fear watering down of evidence 

  Lawyer Baran Bilici said that there has been no development in the case of the citizens who were detained by the soldiers in the Çatak district and were thrown out of a military helicopter and warned that a delay could help water down evidence.
• Report says DTP's former co-chair Aysel Tuğluk "can remain in prison" 

  Istanbul ATK Presidency said DTP's former co-chair, Aysel Tuğluk, "can live on her own".
• Emine Şenyaşar testifies on the grounds of insulting minister Soylu 

  Emine Şenyaşar testified on the grounds that she "insulted" the Turkish Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu.
• DBP Van Provincial Co-Chair: “Systematic repression in prisons” 

  Çetin Uyar, Van Provincial Co-Chair of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP), stated that the state repression of hunger-striking prisoners in Turkey has reached the level of "systematic repression."
• MP Imir: Deadly armoured vehicles must be removed from civvy streets immediately 

  According to HDP Şırnak Deputy Nuran İmir, Miraç Miroğlu's death, which was a result of being hit by an armoured vehicle, reflected the state’s Kurdish hostility on the ground.
• Hunger strike of prisoners against isolation on day 288 

  The hunger strike of the political prisoners in Turkey’s prisons against the Imrali isolation marks its 288th day. The solidarity hunger strikes in Maxmur and Greece also continue.
• Activists detained by KDP go on hunger strike 

  News is coming through about some political prisoners arrested by the KDP in Behdinan who have been on hunger strike since Tuesday. Their situation is said to be bad.
• Ill prisoner Kırtay: I am very sick. You may receive news of my death this week 

  In a phone call with his family, ill prisoner Abdulhalim Kırtay said: “I have been in the cell for two days. I am very sick. They put a lot of pressure on me. You may receive news of my death this week. Be prepared.”
• 'Justice Vigil’ of Şenyaşar family on day 185: “Sue the offenders, not us” 

  Emine and Ferit Şenyaşar, who have been protesting for justice in front of the Urfa Courthouse for the past 185 days, maintained their vigil today.
• 103 prisoners have died in Turkey’s jails in the past 6 years 

  In the last 6 years, at least 103 out of more than a thousand sick prisoners who were not even allowed to bid adieu to their relatives, lost their lives in Turkey’s prisons.
• Hunger strike of prisoners against isolation on day 287 

  The hunger strike of the political prisoners in Turkey’s prisons against the Imrali isolation marks its 287th day. The solidarity hunger strikes in Maxmur and Greece also continue.
• Cihad Hesen still in the hands of Hewler authorities after 91 days 

  The Autonomous Administration Hewler representative, Cihad Hesen, has not yet been released and the authorities have given no news about him for 91 days.