15.07.2008 - Source: BBC News

South-east Turkey: According to the Turkish military, it has killed 22 Kurdish rebels over the last 5 days ("Turkish operation 'kills 22 PKK'") [ID 23916]

Document(s): Open document

14.07.2008 - Source: BBC News

South-eastern Turkey: 2 Turkish soldiers and 3 Kurdish rebels are killed in clashes near the border with Iraq ("Five dead as Turkey battles PKK") [ID 23915]

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

295 terrorists killed and 193 injured in armed clashes related to the struggle against the terrorist PKK organization ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 22798]

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Former members of parliament sentenced for supporting the PKK ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 22970]

"In the retrial of former members of parliament Leyla Zana, Hatip Dicle, Orhan Dogan, and Selim Sadak for supporting the PKK, the court sentenced the defendants each to terms of seven years and six months, but ruled that each defendant had already fulfilled the sentence by having served 10 years following the initial trial at which they were sentenced to 15 years."

Document(s): Open document

06.05.2007 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Southeast: According to officials, 2 soldiers and 5 guerrillas with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) killed ("Renewed Clashes In Southeastern Turkey Kill Seven") [ID 19898]

Document(s): Open document

22.03.2006 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Report on the repatriation of a Turkish Kurd, convicted and imprisoned because of his political activities, support and membership with the PKK ("Rückkehrgefährdung für PKK-Aktivisten") [#47139],  [ID 14246]

Document(s): Open document

12.05.2005 - Source: BBC News

Trial of Kurdish leader 'unfair' ("Trial of Kurdish leader 'unfair'") [#31928],  [ID 14247]

"Ocalan was convicted of treason in 1999. He was blamed for 30,000 deaths in a 15-year war between his PKK group and Turkish security forces. ...

The applicant was not tried by an independent and impartial tribunal," the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) said in a statement.
The judges ruled that the presence of a military judge on the panel meant that the Turkish court's judgement could not have been fair.
They did not directly call for a retrial but said retrying or reopening Ocalan's case would be "an appropriate way of redressing the violation"."

Document(s): Open document

20.04.2005 - Source: Amnesty International

Alleged member of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) reportedly detained by the Turkish army, during a military operation against the armed group the Kurdistan Worker's Party (the PKK); it is not known where he is being held and he may be at risk of torture or "disappearance" ("Turkey - UA 95/05") [#31513],  [ID 14248]

Document(s): Open document
Open document

10.01.2005 - Source: Amnesty International

Arbitrary detention of family members of wanted persons (an alleged member of PKK in the present case) still common (expert opinion, in German) ("Stellungnahme vom 10.1.2005 an VG Sigmaringen - A 8 K 10281/03 -") [#28406],  [ID 14249]

Document(s): Open document

17.12.2004 - Source: Amnesty International

Situation following resumption of armed struggle by PKK/Kongra Gel; effects on human rights situation (evacuation of villages, relatives of alleged PKK-members under threat); risk upon return because of political activities in exile; ongoing repressions because of public use of Kurdish language (expert opinion, in German) ("Stellungnahme vom 17.12.2004 an OVG Nordrhein-Westfalen") [#28399],  [ID 14250]

Document(s): Open document

17.12.2004 - Source: Amnesty International

Risk upon return for alleged member of PKK/Kongra-Gel; investigations by Turkish authorities very likely because of criminal conviction in Germany and because of press reports; on state of legal reforms, occurrence of torture still widespread in police custody (expert opinion, in German) ("Stellungnahme vom 17.12.2004 an VG Hamburg - 11 A 2003/99 -") [#28799],  [ID 14251]

Document(s): Open document

01.09.2004 - Source: Guardian

Hakkari province: 2 Turks and 11 Kurds killed in fighting between army and Kurdistan Workers party ("Turks attack Kurdish rebels") [#25282],  [ID 14254]

"Two Turks and 11 Kurds have been killed in three days' of fighting between the army and the Kurdistan Workers party or PKK, now known as Kongra-Gel, in Hakkari province on the Turkish border with Iraq.
A Turkish official said yesterday that more than 1,000 troops took part in the offensive. And the foreign minister, Abdullah Gul, again urged the US to take action against Turkish Kurd bases across the border."

Document(s): Open document

04.08.2004 - Source: Amnesty International

3 men detained and reportedly tortured in Siirt/ police reportedly threatened their lawyer at gunpoint when he tried to visit them ("Turkey - UA 240/04") [#24470],  [ID 14255]

"Three men have been detained and reportedly tortured in Siirt, southeast Turkey. Police have reportedly threatened their lawyer at gunpoint when he tried to visit them, and followed him in the street. Amnesty International believes the lawyer's life may be in danger.

Police detained Abdullah Gündogdu, Tahsin Atak and Ihsan Gülmek in the Pervari district of Siirt province on 30 July, reportedly on suspicion of aiding and abetting an armed organization, the Kurdistan People's Congress (Kongra-Gel), which was formerly known as the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). [...]"

Document(s): Open document
Open document

20.07.2004 - Source: Amnesty International

4 men detained by police allegedly on suspicion of "aiding and abetting an armed organization", presumed to be the illegal armed group Kongra-Gel (formerly known as the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK))/ they are at risk of torture in police custody ("Turkey - UA 227/04") [#24137],  [ID 14256]

Document(s): Open document
Open document

14.07.2004 - Source: BBC News

A Turkish court has ordered a retrial for 4 Kurdish former MPs, who were freed after a decade of imprisonment ("Freed Kurd ex-MPs to get retrial") [#24037],  [ID 14258]

Document(s): Open document

09.07.2004 - Source: BBC News

Turkish police are pushing for new charges to be brought against four Kurdish former MPs who were freed after a decade of imprisonment ("Freed Kurd ex-MPs face new threat") [#23914],  [ID 14259]

"A police spokesman accused them of making separatist speeches at rallies in south-eastern Turkey last month.
The four - including award-winning rights activist Leyla Zana - are also accused of speaking Kurdish at the rally, in violation of Turkish law.
Their release last month was welcomed by the EU and human rights groups. [...]
Despite their release, an appeal against their initial conviction is still pending and a decision is expected on 14 July. [...]"

Document(s): Open document

23.06.2004 - Source: Kaya, Serafettin

Stellungnahme vom 23.6.2004 an VG Greifswald - 9 A 2477/99 As - (vgl. auch Stellungnahmen von H. Oberdiek und O. Aydin im selben Verfahren) ("Stellungnahme vom 23.6.2004 an VG Greifswald - 9 A 2477/99 As - (vgl. auch Stellungnahmen von H. Oberdiek und O. Aydin im selben Verfahren)") [#26068],  [ID 14260]

Document(s): Open document

15.06.2004 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Most of the 25 pro-Kurdish journalists and media workers arrested ahead of the Nato summit were released/ 2 of them, accused of having links with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), and imprisoned ("Pro-Kurd journalists arrested ahead of Nato summit released ; two charged") [#23289],  [ID 14262]

Document(s): Open document

10.06.2004 - Source: Amnesty International

Prisoners of conscience Leyla Zana, Hatip Dicle, Selim Sadak and Orhan Dogan who were sentenced for alleged membership of an illegal armed organization, the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK), released ("Released prisoners of conscience should face no further trial") [#23199],  [ID 13165]

Document(s): Open document
Open document

09.06.2004 - Source: BBC News

Four prominent Kurdish activists, including award-winning ex-MP Leyla Zana, have been freed from Turkish jail pending an appeal ("Kurd activists leave Turkish jail") [#23182],  [ID 14263]

"A Turkish court ordered the release on Wednesday after a state prosecutor called for their sentences - imposed in 1994 - to be quashed.

Their trials had been widely condemned by human rights groups.

The European Commission welcomed the decision as a sign that reforms in Turkey were gathering pace.[...]"

Document(s): Open document

07.06.2004 - Source: BBC News

Prosecutor calls for the 15-year jail sentence of a leading Kurdish rights campaigner and 3 of her fellow former MPs to be overturned ("Kurd MPs' conviction challenged") [#23188],  [ID 14264]

"Leyla Zana and her colleagues have been in prison since 1994, convicted of belonging to outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The case was reopened last year after the European Court of Human Rights ruled the original trial was unfair.

A court ruled in April that the four should stay in prison.

But the prosecutor said the conviction should be quashed because witnesses called to give evidence in the original trial had not been called for the re-trial. [...]"

Document(s): Open document

26.05.2004 - Source: Amnesty International

New law on retrial in effect ("Annual Report 2004 (covering 2003)") [#22903],  [ID 14265]

"[...] Four “harmonization” reform packages entered into law on 11 January, 4 February, 19 July and 7 August. Among the notable elements were: [...] the possibility of retrial for those whom the European Court of Human Rights ruled had suffered a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights as a result of a court ruling in Turkey [...]

As a result of the new law on retrial, four former Democracy Party (DEP) deputies – Leyla Zana, Hatip Dicle, Orhan Doğan and Selim Sadak – attended the first hearing of their retrial on 28 March. AI believed that the four prisoners of conscience, imprisoned since 1994, were punitively punished for their non-violent political activities relating to the Kurdish question. One-day hearings of the retrial were subsequently held once a month; AI and other international observers voiced serious concerns about the fairness of the trial procedures and the continued imprisonment of the four former deputies."

Document(s): Open document
Open document

20.05.2004 - Source: Aydin, Osman

Stellungnahme vom 20.5.2004 an VG Greifswald - 9 A 2477/99 As - (vgl. auch Stellungnahmen von H. Oberdiek und S. Kaya im selben Verfahren) ("Stellungnahme vom 20.5.2004 an VG Greifswald - 9 A 2477/99 As - (vgl. auch Stellungnahmen von H. Oberdiek und S. Kaya im selben Verfahren)") [#26067],  [ID 14266]

Document(s): Open document

21.04.2004 - Source: Amnesty International

4 prisoners of conscience, sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for membership of an illegal armed organization, the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) in 1994, remain in prison ("Injustice continues despite welcome reforms") [#21534],  [ID 14268]

Document(s): Open document

25.02.2004 - Source: US Department of State

Government continues to organize, arm, and pay village guards ("Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2003") [#19741],  [ID 14269]

"Due to the conflict with the PKK/KADEK/KHK, the Government continued to organize, arm, and pay a civil defense force of about 60,000, mostly in the southeast region. This force, known as the village guards, was reputed to be the least disciplined of the security forces and continued to be accused repeatedly of drug trafficking, rape, corruption, theft, and human rights abuses. Inadequate oversight and compensation contributed to this problem, and in some cases Jandarma allegedly protected village guards from prosecution. In addition to the village guards, Jandarma and police "special teams" were viewed as those most responsible for abuses. DEHAP officials claimed that security forces in July publicly displayed the bodies of two slain PKK/KADEK militants in the town of Baskale in Van Province. However, the incidence of credible allegations of serious abuses by security forces in operations against the PKK/KADEK/KHK was low."

Document(s): Open document

25.02.2004 - Source: US Department of State

Human rights activists and attorneys call for transfer of Ocalan to mainland prison ("Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2003") [#19741],  [ID 14270]

"Human rights activists and attorneys for jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan called on the Government to transfer Ocalan from his cell on Imrali Island in the Sea of Marmara to a mainland prison. They claimed Ocalan was being held in isolation and also said he was suffering from health problems. Relatives and attorneys were unable to visit Ocalan for 15 weeks from November 2002 to March; the Government said stormy weather grounded the boat shuttling visitors to the island. The ECHR ruled in March that Ocalan's prison conditions were not unlawful."

Document(s): Open document

07.11.2003 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Report focused on torture and inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment in selected Osce states ("Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment") [#17377],  [ID 14271]

"• On 7 February 2003 the police detained two members of the youth section of the banned People’s Democracy Party (HADEP) in the Bahcelievler district. According to the testimony of one of the young men, a 17-year old, they were taken to a police station and interrogated about who had been spreading propaganda for the PRO-Kurdish KADEK organization. The police fooled the young man to testify against his friend by promising him that they both would be acquitted for lack of evidence if they testified against each other. Afterwards, he was released because he was under age. His friend was remanded and tortured while in detention, according to his lawyer. The police tried to force him to become an informer, and as he refused, he was stripped naked, subjected to a “Palestinian hanger”, hosed with pressurised water, and sexually assaulted."

Document(s): Open document

06.11.2003 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Groups at risk (e.g. members of opposition parties, human rights activists, certain groups of women); inadequate implementation of political reforms (German) ("Asylsuchende aus der Türkei - Position der SFH") [#17802],  [ID 14272]

"Einer asylrelevanten Verfolgung können insbesondere Personen unterliegen, für die es aufgrund der mangelnden Umsetzung der Reformen im Menschenrechtsbereich, vor allem aber aufgrund des landesweiten Einflusses der unabhängig von der Reformpolitik agierenden Sicherheitsdienste samt deren informellen Netzwerken keine sichere interne Fluchtalternative gibt. [...]

1.3 Mitglieder und AnhängerInnen illegaler Oppositionsparteien

Führende und aktive Mitglieder sowie AnhängerInnen illegaler Oppositionsparteien (KADEK [Kurdischer Freiheits- und Demokratiekongress], DHKC [Revolutionäre Volksbefreiungsfront], TKP/ML-TIKKO [Türkisch Kommunistische Partei/Marxistisch- Leninistisch–Befreiungsarmee der ArbeiterInnen und Bauern/Bäuerinnen der Türkei, militärischer Flügel [Maoisten]], MLKP [Marxistisch-leninistische Kommunistische Partei]) werden des Versuchs angeklagt, die verfassungsrechtliche Ordnung des Staates umstürzen und eine neue Staatsordnung begründen zu wollen. Je nach Funktion können Haftstrafen zwischen fünf und mehr als fünfzehn Jahren verhängt werden. Verhafteten Personen drohen systematische Repressionen bis hin zu Folter. [...]

1.5 ExilaktivistInnen

ExilaktivistInnen, die im Ausland von der türkischen Regierung überwacht werden und in die Türkei einreisen, müssen mit Verhaftungen rechnen. Zu prüfen ist, ob ausschliesslich subjektive Nachfluchtgründe vorliegen."

Document(s): Open document

23.09.2003 - Source: BBC News

Turkish court frees leaders of the country's two main pro-Kurdish parties, Tuncer Bakirhan, (Dehap) and Ahmet Turan Demir (Free Society Party), who were detained earlier this week for questioning ("Turkey frees Kurd leaders") [#16314],  [ID 14273]

Document(s): Open document

22.09.2003 - Source: BBC News

Turkish police detained leaders of the country's two main pro-Kurdish parties and a rock singer, after they attended a festival in Germany which Ankara says was organised by militants ("Turkey detains Kurd leaders") [#16315],  [ID 14274]

Document(s): Open document

01.05.2003 - Source: International Federation for Human Rights

People suspected of being connected with PKK, now KADEK are more likely to be arrested and subjected to torture; human rights abuses in the south-east ("International Investigative Mission: Turkey: Torture, still a routine practice.") [#12386],  [ID 14275]

"4.1. Victims
People suspected of political crimes, and more particularly, those suspected of being connected to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) - now called Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy Congress (KADEK) - and others falling under the jurisdiction of the State Security Court, are more likely to be subjected to arbitrary arrest and detention, ostensibly under the Law n°3713 on "Combating Terrorism" adopted on 12 April 1991, the so-called "Anti Terror Law" and subsequently subjected to torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. People detained under the Anti-Terror Law are tried in the State Security Court, rather than the regular court system. This law fails to safeguard the protection of human rights, and some articles actually encourage violations. [...]
It is further reported that members of security forces, including "special teams" and anti-terror squads, and Jandarmas committed serious human rights abuses, including torture, particularly in the southeast."

Document(s): Open document

04.2003 - Source: UK Home Office

PKK members still face criminal prosecution by the authorities under Article 168 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 5 of the Anti-Terror Law ("Country Assessment - April 2003") [#13461],  [ID 14276]

"6.184 There has been no change in the Turkish authorities' attitude towards the PKK since it withdrew its fighters outside Turkey's borders, altered its objectives and renounced violence. Like members of militant left-wing or Islamist organisations, PKK members still face criminal prosecution by the authorities. [2a]
6.185 Whoever can be shown to be a member of the PKK, a radical left-wing group such as DHKP/C or TKP/ML or a militant Islamist group such as Hezbollah will be prosecuted under Article 168 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 5 of the Anti-Terror Law. Under Article 168 the penalty is imprisonment for a minimum of ten years and, in the event of aggravating circumstances, a maximum of fifteen years. The penalty is increased by half under Article 5 of the Anti-Terror Law. The above Articles impose heavier penalties on leaders of such organisations. They will also be prosecuted under Articles 125 or 146 for attempted armed subversion of the established constitutional order, which is punishable by life imprisonment (until the reform of August 2002 by the death penalty). [2a][66a]
6.186 Individuals who have criminal proceedings pending against them and are wanted by the authorities are recorded in the central Judicial Records System, so that the authorities are informed nationwide when a person is wanted. [2a]"

Document(s): Open document

31.03.2003 - Source: US Department of State

Incidence of credible allegations of serious abuses by security forces, in the course of operations against the PKK, was low ("Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2002") [#11861],  [ID 14277]

"As a result of the 1984-99 conflict with the PKK, the Government continued to organize, arm, and pay a civil defense force of more than 65,000, mostly in the southeast region. This force, known as the village guards, had a reputation for being the least disciplined of the Government's security forces and have been accused repeatedly of drug trafficking, rape, corruption, theft, and human rights abuses. Inadequate oversight and compensation contributed to this problem, and in some cases Jandarma allegedly have protected village guards from prosecution. In addition to the village guards, Jandarma and police "special teams" were viewed as those most responsible for abuses. However, the incidence of credible allegations of serious abuses by security forces, in the course of operations against the PKK, was low."

Document(s): Open document

28.08.2002 - Source: Amnesty International

12 people, charged with "participating in an illegal meeting" and being in contravention of the Anti-Terror Law, released by the authorities and are now awaiting trial/ while in police detention in Mardin they were all reportedly exposed to torture or ill-treatment ("Turkey - UA 141/02") [#8447],  [ID 14278]

Document(s): Open document

14.08.2002 - Source: Amnesty International

Stellungnahme v. 14.8.2002 an VG Potsdam - 11 K 2296/96.A - ("Stellungnahme v. 14.8.2002 an VG Potsdam - 11 K 2296/96.A -") [#10358],  [ID 14279]

Document(s): 2847tur.rtf

11.01.2002 - Source: Amnesty International

5 men suspected of being connected to the armed opposition group Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) held in incommunicado detention and are at risk of torture or ill-treatment ("Turkey - UA 15/02") [#5251],  [ID 14280]

Document(s): Open document

07.11.2001 - Source: Amnesty International

Man arrested and held in incommunicado detention at a gendarmerie station in Diyarbakir province/ he was charged with "having connections with the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK)"and was also tortured ("Turkey - UA 284/01") [#4581],  [ID 14281]

Document(s): Open document

05.11.2001 - Source: Amnesty International

2 members of the legal pro-Kurdish political party, HADEP, detained and at risk of torture/ many supporters of illegal organizations were previously tortured ("Turkey - UA 280/01") [#4529],  [ID 14282]

Document(s): Open document

17.10.2001 - Source: Amnesty International

3 people killed and 21 members of a Kurdish family arrested by gendarmes/ police and gendarmerie in the Kurdish southeastern region of the country frequently arrest political dissidents on "suspicion" of offences ("Turkey - UA 260/01") [#4323],  [ID 14283]

Document(s): Open document