Continue reading “Peace in Kurdistan condemns the latest crackdown on free women in Turkey”
The important reports reveal destruction, damage and detentions in southeast
Today we received three important new reports about the physical destruction and humanitarian situation in North Kurdistan, the Southeast of the Republic of Turkey.
First, a new and important report of the Union of Southeastern Anatolia Region (GABB) on the damage in the cities which were faced with a curfew by the Turkish Government in the last half year. This report has been prepared by a large number of people in
different provinces.
Download the GABB Regional Damage Assessment Report
There is secondly an overview about the arrested, detained, dismissed and warrented co-mayors of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP), the main member party of the HDP.
Download the GABB list of mayors dismissed, imprisoned and prosecuted since July 2015
Finally you can find a short information about the situation of the displaced people of the old city of Amed (Diyarbakir).
Download the DPP Diyarbakir Metropolitan Municipality
Law Society questions investigations into Elci’s death
The President of the Law Society, Jonathan Smithers, has written an official letter to the Justice Minister of Turkey, Kenan Ipek, with his concerns about the investigation into Tahir Elci’s assassination in November 2015.
The well-known human rights lawyer was shot dead in broad daylight, soon after having made a statement calling for an end to the curfews and state sanctioned violence in Kurdish cities at a press conference. The Law Society president raises concerns about lost evidence, witness statements and possible interferences in the investigations.
To read the letter download it here
European Lawyers Delegation visits Diyarbakir
Press release
A delegation of European lawyers will visit Diyarbakir from 21st to 24th January 2016. The 13 participants come from Belgium, Germany, Italy, and Austria. Two European lawyers’ organisations are supporting this initiative, the European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and Human Rights (ELDH) and the European Democratic Lawyers (EDL) and also the “Unione delle Camere Penali Italiane”
Continue reading “European Lawyers Delegation visits Diyarbakir”
Statement of the IADL & ELDH on the assassination of Tahir Elçi
November 28, 2015
The International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL), a non-governmental organization with consultative status to the Council on Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations (ECOSOC), and the European Association of Lawyers for Democracy & World Human Rights (ELDH) are shocked and outraged by the brutal murder this morning of our colleague Tahir Elçi, president of the Diyarbakir Bar Association.
Continue reading “Statement of the IADL & ELDH on the assassination of Tahir Elçi”
Patrick Smith reports from Diyarbakir on community-run food banks
The violent repression of the Kurdish people is well documented. But arriving in Diyarbakir as part of a delegation from the UK, the first thing that strikes me is the poverty that is clearly visible on the streets. This is not a rich city; this is not a wealthy region. The sky scrapers and high-end restaurants of Istanbul are a long way away. But with the Turkish Government unwilling to step in to help, and indeed promoting policies to keep the Kurdish regions underdeveloped, people here are having to take the situation into their own hands.
A study by the Union of SouthEast Anatolian Region Municipalities (GABB) shows the South Eastern provinces making up the lowest 21 ranks out of Turkey’s 81 provinces in nearly all socio-economic indicators. In spite of the region’s 16% share of the population and underdevelopment, it only receives 8.5% of the local administration spending, and attracts hardly any investment for major infrastructure projects. Continue reading “Patrick Smith reports from Diyarbakir on community-run food banks”
Eyewitness report of Amed on 14 July
Below is a statement by CENI – Kurdish Women’s Office for Peace in support of the demonstrators who took to the streets in Amed on 14 July. A delegation of 12 women from Germany and the UK were visiting the Kurdish regions of Turkey at the time and witnessed the events. You can also read their response to the unrest below.
Protests against the emergency situation in Amed
For the 14th July, The Democratic Society Congress (DTK) and the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) called for a demonstration in Amed (Diyarbakir), with the demand “Freedom for Abdullah Ocalan”. Although the governor had forbidden the demonstration, the organisers – supported by trade unions, women’s organisations, progressive Turkish organisations, and NGOs – persisted with using the demonstration to signal a solution to the Kurdish question, and to not allow the right of assembly and freedom of expression to be forbidden. Continue reading “Eyewitness report of Amed on 14 July”