HUMAN RIGHTS

Latest News

• Şenyaşar family enters 7th day of Vigil for justice 

  The Şenyaşar family are carrying out a vigil in Urfa demanding justice. They called “on everybody who has a conscience to support our action."
• Seriously ill prisoner dies in jail 

  Once again, a seriously ill prisoner has died in Turkish custody. Hayrettin Yılmaz was 65 years old and suffered from lung cancer. Although he could no longer care for himself alone, he was isolated for a long time.
• “Failure to free Kavala, Demirtaş makes mockery of Erdogan’s Human Rights Action Plan” 

  “Turkish authorities must release Kavala and Demirtaş, allow human rights defenders to do their work and stop putting undue pressure on their judges," said the HRW.
• Political prisoners continue to be harassed 

  Political prisoners deported from Mardin to Amed, put under pressure and not even given bread or tea.
• Jailed SGDF members held in solitary confinement for 5 months 

  Lawyer Sezin Uçar, a member of EHB said that 3 jailed members of SGDF were tortured in Sincan Prison and have been kept in a solitary cell since 19 October 2020 on the grounds that they reject standing up during inmate count.
• Kurdish books of prisoners seized in Şırnak 

  Prisoner Nezir Katar, in her weekly phone call with her family, reported that their wards were raided by the guards and the Kurdish books were confiscated.
• Families apply to be granted visit to Imrali 

  Families of Abdullah Öcalan and three other political prisoners in Imralı island prison applied once again to be granted a visit.
• University of Mainz in solidarity with Boğaziçi University  

  The Senate and Rector's Office of Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz in Germany released a written statement in solidarity with Boğaziçi University in Istanbul.
• Turkish soldiers torture a family in Ağrı countryside 

  Murat Uygar, who was tortured together with his family by the Turkish military, applied the Human Rights Association (IHD) and the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TIHV).
• Şenyaşar family once again demands justice in front of Urfa Court 

  Şenyaşar family continues its protest in front of the courthouse in Urfa to denounce the killings of family members by relatives and bodyguards AKP deputy Ibrahim Halil Yıldız in Suruç in 2018.
• Family of guerrilla Sozdar Aslan recovers her remains after 17 months 

  The Turkish state delivered the body of HPG guerrilla Sozdar Aslan, who fell a martyr in the Van countryside, to her family after 17 months.
• Prisoners enter day 103 of their hunger strike against isolation and rights violation 

  An indefinite alternating hunger strike was undertaken by PKK and PAJK prisoners on 27 November demanding the end of the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan and protesting violations of rights in the country's jails.
• European parliamentarians launch campaign for Demirtaş's freedom 

  European parliamentarians launched a campaign for the release of HDP’s former co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş, who has been in prison for 4 years.
• Three activists released in East Kurdistan 

  In Eastern Kurdistan, three activists arrested in the wake of the wave of repression by the Iranian authorities that began in January have been released on bail. At least 59 people are still in custody.
• IHD visits Leyla Güven in prison 

  A delegation of the IHD has visited Kurdish politician Leyla Güven in prison. The former HDP deputy is said to be in good health and psychologically well.
• IHD says 61 women prisoners suffer from serious health problems 

  The IHD Prison Commission announced that 61 ill women prisoners suffer from serious health problems and added that ‘they should be released immediately.’
• One hundred days of hunger strike in prisons against isolation 

  For a hundred days, political prisoners in Turkey have been on hunger strike against isolation and rights violations. As repression has continued to intensify, prisoners are not released even after serving their sentences.
• Hunger strikes in prisons reach day 100 

  HDP Legal and Human Rights Commission co-chair Ümit Dede said: “The hunger strike in prisons has reached its 100th day. This hunger strike is a resistance to defend honour and human dignity.”
• Political prisoners in Bolu tortured, transferred to another jail 

  3 prisoners in Bolu F Type Prison have been tortured and transferred to another jail.
• Hunger strikes in Turkish prisons reach day 99 

  The hunger strike launched in prisons against the Imrali isolation continues on its 99th day. The solidarity hunger strike launched in Maxmur continues on its 78th day and in Greece on its 61st.
• Germany urges Turkey to implement ECtHR judgements 

  Germany's Foreign Ministry has asked Turkey to "immediately and fully" implement the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) decisions as Turkey rolled out its ‘Human Rights Action Plan’.
• Hunger Strikes Monitoring Coordination: People must protest isolation in prisons 

  Hunger Strikes Monitoring Marmara Coordination pointed to the 22 years of isolation in Imrali and called on the public to support the prisoners' resistance.
• Strip-search reported in the prisons in Van as well 

  Strip search is getting more and more frequent in Turkey. Co-chair of DER TUHAY in Van province Kudret Temel reveals that there are also many complaints from prisons in Van.
• Urgent action letter to the UN Special Rapporteurs on the killing of Tahir Elçi 

  “Turkey must take steps to ensure a fair trial by an impartial and independent tribunal respecting the procedural rights of Tahir Elçi’s family, as well as carry out a prompt, effective, impartial, and independent investigation into Mr. Elçi’s death.”
• RiseUp4Rojava stands in solidarity with Greek hunger striker Koufontinas 

  RiseUp4Rojava issued a statement of solidarity with Greek hunger striker Dimitris Koufontinas.