HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• Kurdish activist facing extradition to Turkey on indefinite hunger strike in Serbia 

  The Serbian government seems determined to extradite Kurdish revolutionary Ecevit Piroğlu to the Turkish state. Piroğlu has started an indefinite hunger strike against extradition.
• Family of Saniye Toprak buries her remains after a wait of 284 days  

  The family of Saniye Toprak, who fell as a martyr in August 2021, was able to take the remains of their daughter 284 days after the first request. Toprak was finally buried in the village where she was born.
• Police attack rally for prisoners in Istanbul 

  Police attacked a vigil by relatives of political prisoners in Istanbul and detained six people. The relatives, mostly mothers, are fighting for the lives of their imprisoned children.
• Kurdish migrants on hunger strike in Poland 

  Ten migrants from Kurdistan have been on hunger strike in Poland for three weeks in protest at their internment under prison conditions.
• Human Rights Foundation received the highest number of applications in 2021 

  According to HRFT Treatment Centers 2021 report, the Foundation has received the highest number of applications last year since its establishment in 1990. A five-year-old child also complained about torture in 2021.
• Justice Vigil carried out by the Şenyaşar family reaches day 447 

  The Justice Vigil carried out by the Şenyaşar family has reached day 447.
• Three prisoners on hunger strike in Afyon No. 1 T Type Prison tortured, say families 

  It was stated that 3 prisoners who went on hunger strike in Afyon No. 1 T Type Prison were tortured and taken out of their wards. No news has been heard since.
• Semra Özkan: "My father is living his last days" 

  Mehmet Emin Özkan has been held innocently in prison in Turkey since 1996 and is seriously ill. The daughter of the 85-year-old Kurd from Amed says her father is living his last days.
• Political prisoners not released despite having served their sentences 

  Ten women imprisoned for political reasons in the northeastern Anatolian city of Bayburt are not released despite serving their sentences because they refuse to attend military roll call.
• Activists from Bielefeld take over Freedom for Öcalan Vigil in Strasbourg on week 519 

  A group of activists from Bielefeld took over the Freedom for Öcalan Vigil in Strasbourg on its 519th week.
• Mother of ill prisoner Bülent Mengeş says her son is not receiving treatment 

  Hacer Tayfur, mother of ill prisoner Bülent Mengeş, said that her son's treatment was blocked and that she doesn’t want her son to die in prison.
• Relocation of guerrilla bodies taken to the ECtHR 

  The case concerning the mortal remains that were removed from Garzan Cemetery and reburied under a pavement in Kilyos Cemetery has been taken to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).
• Turkish soldiers and FSA torture prisoners from Afrin 

  Afrin residents jailed in Turkey’s Yayladağı Prison stated that they were tortured by Turkish soldiers and members of the Free Syrian Army (FSA).
• Signs of torture on body of prisoner Sıddık Uğur 

  Signs of torture were found on the body of prisoner Sıddık Uğur, who was found dead in Batman Beşiri T Type Prison.
• Prisoners in Kırıklar jail go on hunger strike again as their demands are not met 

  Relatives of the prisoners drew attention to the persecution in Kırıklar Prison and announced that the hunger strike had resumed.
• New information on the suspicious death of Garibe Gezer 

  Fahrettin Keskin stated that his daughter Yıldz Keskin, who was imprisoned in the same cell as Garibe Gezer, who died suspiciously in Kandra Prison, suggested that Garibe was murdered.
• Prisoners are punished economically as they have to pay high prices for goods and electricity 

  Prisoners are punished twice as they also have to pay high prices for goods and electricity in jail.
• Human rights defender in Hakkari receives death threat  

  “I believe that I received a death threat because of my activities in the city as a human rights defender. In fact, it is a threat to all human rights defenders,” said IHD Co-Chair in Hakkari.
• Six political prisoners in Sincan receive visit ban for protesting Halabja massacre 

  Six political prisoners in Sincan women's prison have received a visit ban for allegedly chanting slogans on the anniversary of the poison gas attack on Halabja. Among those affected is the dismissed mayor of Karayazi.
• Remains of HPG guerrilla Zindan Yeni given to family after a 7-month wait 

  The remains of HPG guerrilla Zindan Yeni, who fell as a martyr in the clashes in the rural district of Dicle in September 2021, were given to his family 7 months later. The soldiers did not allow the family to receive condolences.
• IHD Adana Branch issues report on violations in Çukurova Plain Prisons 

  The IHD Adana Branch has issued a report on violations in Çukurova Plain Prisons. The report reveals a massive increase in human rights abuses behind bars.
• Lawyers of Abdullah Öcalan submit urgent petition to UN 

  Asrın Law Office referred to the prevention of Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan's visits by family and lawyers to the UN and called for "urgent action."
• Police obstruct funeral of YPS martyr Mehmethan Yıldız  

  The burial of YPS martyr Mehmethan Yıldız was not obstructed by police.
• Remains of YPS martyr handed over to his family 6 years after his death 

  The remains of YPS member Mehmethan Yıldız, who fell as a martyr during the self-government resistance in Şırnak on 14 March 2016, were handed over to his family 6 years after his death.
• UN expert says sanctions imposed on Iran are "illegal and devastating" 

  Independent United Nations expert Alena Douhan said that the impact of sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran was “devastating” and urged that they be lifted.