Cambridge University Professor and author Dr. Thomas Jeffery Miley speaks with Journalist Alaettin Sinayic about Turkish state violence, Kurdish resistance and the philosophy of “democratic confederalism” which has been adopted by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the PYD in Syria for the better part of twenty years.
I am writing this letter to you as the Mayor of Diyarbakır, who was elected on the local elections in March 31, 2019 with 62.9% of the votes; however dismissed on August 19, replaced with an appointed trustee; and finally arrested on October 22, 2019.
One of Turkey’s trustee appointed 95 HDP municipalities as of 2016; we got back Diyarbakir Metropolitan Municipality on 31 March 2019 local elections and started to build up the local democracy once again. However, only 4 months later the central government have appointed a trustee once again and unlawfully seized the local administrations of Diyarbakir, Mardin and Van provinces that it could not succeed to gain through elections. This coup, which was addressed to local democracy on 19 August 2019, has been directly against Kurds’ right to vote and to be elected, contrary to the perception of ‘terror’ that the AKP government tries to create in public opinion. The seizure of local people’ will was not a reasoned decision of law, but a clear statement that the Kurds cannot elect the people who will rule the cities in which they live. Continue reading “TO INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC OPINION: HDP STATEMENT”
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For Written Answer on : 06/09/2019
Question Number(s): 41 Question Reference(s): 36084/19
Department: Foreign Affairs and Trade
Asked by: Seán Crowe T.D.
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QUESTION
To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Turkish Government has removed three democratically elected Kurdish mayors from office and Turkish authorities arrested more than 400 political activists in August 2019 as part of a deepening crackdown on Kurdish political parties (details supplied); his views on this development and the worsening human rights and democratic situation in Turkey; and if he will raise the issue with his Turkish counterpart. (Details Supplied) the mayors of Diyarbakir, Mardin and Van, who are all members of the People’s Democratic Party (HDP), were democratically elected by large majorities in March 2019 Continue reading “Sinn Fein presses Minister about removal of Kurdish Mayors”
Watch the video of the event here
BOOK LAUNCH, special event marking the release of Your Freedom and Mine: Abdullah Öcalan and the Kurdish Question in Erdoğan’s Turkey. Edited by Dr Thomas Jeffrey Miley and Dr Federico Venturini.
Speakers include: Dimitrios Roussopoulos political activist, ecologist, and publisher; Dr Thomas Jeffrey Miley lecturer of political sociology at the University of Cambridge; Dr Radha D’Souza Reader in law at Westminster University; Julie Ward MEP (TBC); Jonathan Steele veteran journalist and author; Simon Dubbins UNITE international director; Joe Ryan Chair, Westminster Justice and Peace Commission. In addition,Adem Uzun, member of the Executive Council of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK), will send a video-message. Continue reading “Your Freedom and Mine: Abdullah Öcalan and the Kurdish Question in Erdoğan’s Turkey.”
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release:
The Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal on Turkey and the Kurds is underway in Paris. The session is examining alleged violations of International Law and International Humanitarian Law by the Turkish Republic and its officials in their relations with the Kurdish People and their organisations.
The Tribunal comes a year after the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights published a report detailing allegations of massive destruction, killings and numerous other serious human rights violations committed between July 2015 and December 2016 in southeast Turkey, during Government security operations that affected more than 30 towns and neighbourhoods and displaced between 355,000 and half a million people, mostly of Kurdish origin. Continue reading “The Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal on Turkey and the Kurds”
We call on all democratic forces to condemn alleged state executions by the Turkish state. The actions of Turkey must not be tolerated any longer and the United Nations, European Union, Council of Europe and all those who stand for democracy must condemn the actions of Turkey in the strongest terms.
Continue reading “KNK Statement on suspected Extra-Judicial killings in Turkey”
DAMAGE ASSESSMENT REPORT Conflict Period and following Demolition of the Old city (SUR••Ç••) of DIYARBAKIR August 1, 2017
Nevin Soyukaya Archaeologist Former head of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “DIYARBAKIR FORTRESS AND HEVSEL GARDENS CULTURAL LANDSCAPE” 1 Damage Assessment Report on Old City (Suriçi) of Diyarbakir Introduction The Fortress of Diyarbakir and the Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape have maintained their importance for thousands of years because of its strategic location between the East and the West. The multi-lingual, multi-cultural and multi-layered character of the walled city, called Suriçi and today part of the Sur District, has woven many different cultures into its fabric. Diyarbakir has been the heart of many civilizations and the regional capital at the time of the Persian, Roman, Sassanian, Byzantine and Islamic empires. Continue reading “Damage Assessment Report on Old City (Suriçi) of Diyarbakir”
Data gathered by GABB (Union of Southeastern Anatolia Region Municipalities)
City – Province Population Popular Vote
for the DBP
Name of Appointed State Commissioner
1 Batman Municipality 557K 55,89% Şeref Aksoy- Deputy Governor
2 Hakkari Municipality 275K 66,83% Coney Epçim- Deputy Governor
3 Diyadin Municipality – Ağrı 43K 48,43% Mekan Çeviren- District Governor Continue reading “List of State Commissioners Appointed to DBP-led Municipalities as of 17/03/2017”
Imprisoned Co-Mayors from Kurdish Region, Turkey
Data Compiled by Union of Southeastern Anatolia Region Municipalities (GABB)
as of 17/03/2017
Name Title Date of Arrest Prison
1 Mr. Harun Erkuş Co-Mayor of Lice, Diyarbakır 08/05/2015 Diyarbakır D Type Prison, Diyarbakır
2 Ms. Dilek Hatipoğlu Co-Mayor of Hakkari 08/25/2015 Sincan Women’s Prison, Ankara
3 Mr. Nurullah Çiftçi Co-Mayor of Hakkari 08/25/2015 Kırıkkale F Type, Kırıkkale
4 Ms. Handan Bağcı Co-Mayor of Özalp, Van 10/11/2015 Bayburt M Type Prison, Bayburt Continue reading “Imprisoned Co-Mayors from Kurdish Region, Turkey”
20.02.2017
AKP is carrying out a fresh round of massacre in Kurdistan
Execution, torture, surveillance, and disappearance in Xirabê Baba village of Mêrdin/Nisêbîn
On 1 February, the Turkish government imposed a curfew on nine villages that was lifted on the following day, yet in the village of Xirabe Baba it has been going on. Moreover, Turkish soldiers executed 3 persons, demolished or set on ablaze houses, and put on surveillance many villagers. The militaries have prevented passage to villages, cut the telephone and internet lines, attacked villages with gas bomb, and have not allowed transfer of the wounded to hospital. The embargo that the AKP’s palace forces placed on Xirabê Baba is ongoing. In addition to the execution of 3 persons, Turkish forces tortured 39 persons, and there is no news about 2 more. No connection has been made with the village.
Continue reading “PRESS STATEMENT KNK Executive Committe”
