HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• Öcalan’s lawyer: Ban on contact with Imralı still in effect 

  The Turkish government has lifted the contact ban for Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan. His lawyers continue to see the ban in effect as only one visit has been approved since the decision made in April.
• Prisoners’ mothers tortured with strip searches 

  Mothers detained during their vigil in front of the Bakirköy Closed Women’s Prison to draw attention to the hunger strikes and death fasts were subjected to strip searches in custody.
• Victims of execution in Iran commemorated in Stockholm 

  Noting the importance of supporting the hunger strike resistance led by Leyla Güven, Sadie Vekili urged people in Europe and Kurdistan to stand by the hunger strikers and support the resistance. 
• Amnesty International accused by Kurdish activists of hypocrisy  

  Are Amnesty human rights defenders, or are they human rights abusers? asked Kurdish activists when the organisation called the police to remove their peaceful action.
• Relatives of prisoners on hunger strike rally for solidarity 

  In Turkey and northern Kurdistan, relatives of prisoners take to the streets to draw attention to the hunger strikes against the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan. In Izmir, police have forbidden the demonstrators to pronounce the word "isolation".
• IHD: Enable contact with Öcalan! 

  The Amed Human Rights Association has called for the immediate removal of Abdullah Öcalan's isolation.
• Repression increased in Silivri Prison in Istanbul 

  About 200 PKK prisoners are on hunger strike there demanding the end of isolation in Silivri Prison, in Istanbul.
• Legal consultations for prisoners on hunger strike restricted 

  In the prisons in Van province, the right to solicitor consultations for hunger strikers has been restricted.
• Turkey has a long way to go to ensure children's rights 

  According to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) the employment participation rate for children in 2018 was 21,1%.
• Human Rights Association announced its 2018 Violations of Rights 

  The Human Rights Association (IHD) announced its 2018 Violations of Rights Report. 
• FARC mourned killing of 7-month-old baby 

  Samuel Gonzalez died as a result of an attack against his father, former FARC guerrilla Carlos Enrique Gonzalez.
• Prisoners not allowed to mention hunger strikes on phone calls 

  Prisoners in the Urfa Type T Prison No.2 who have been on a hunger strike since March 1 protesting the isolation imposed upon Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Ocalan reportedly have their phone calls are cut off if they “mention the hunger strikes”.
• Prisoner on day 118 of hunger strike put in solitary confinement 

  Never ending repression by the Turkish regime against Kurdish political prisoners.
• Former FARC commander Santrich: one year of unjust prison 

  One year has passed since the unjust imprisonment of peace negotiator and former FARC commander Jesús Santrich.
• Iraqi President Salih sent draft bill on genocide against Yazidis 

  Iraqi President Barham Salih sent a draft bill to parliament that would classify atrocities committed by ISIS against Yazidi women as “genocide”.
• IHD: There are 743 children with their mothers in prisons 

  IHD Amed Chapter Minors Commission pointed out that the Turkish state has violated international treaties and said: “There are at least 743 children with their mothers in prisons.”
• ÖHD Prison Commission announced report on hunger strikes 

  ÖHD co-chair lawyer Raziye Turgut pointed out that the prisoners who have been on hunger strike since 16 December have already overcome the critical stage.
• At least 108 people died at work in Turkey in March 

  At least 108 people were killed at work in March in Turkey. Eleven of those killed are migrants from Afghanistan, Syria and Turkmenistan.
• Mesopotamian Water Forum kicked off in Sulaymaniyah 

  The Mesopotamian Water Forum is based on the social forum model, and is part of the global world social forum process.
• Irish boycott of Eurovision Song Contest in Israel 

  Protests have been taking place to convince Irish state broadcaster RTÉ to withdraw from this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Israel over its attacks against the Palestinian people.
• Zehra Doğan dedicated award to hunger strikers 

  Index on Censorship has awarded journalist Zehra Doğan the Freedom of Expression Award. Doğan dedicated her award to the hunger strikers.
• Heyva Sor a Kurdistanê and CIK launched aid campaign for Rojhilat 

  It has been 17 days since the calamity started, but the regime continues to obscure the true extent of the floods.
• Prison warden threatens hunger strikers 

  Patnos Type L Closed Prison’s Second Warden threatened to kill the hunger strikers.
• PJAK prisoners in Iran go on hunger strike against isolation 

  Solidarity with the hunger strike resistance against the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan is growing.
• IHD published preliminary report on violations on elections day 

  Many violations have been reported in Kurdistan and Turkey during the local elections.