Tag Archives: Berkin Elvan

Amnesty International condemns the hostage taking and killing of Istanbul prosecutor

Posted on April 2, 2015 by heissenstat

In a statement yesterday, Amnesty International condemned the hostage taking and killing of Istanbul prosecutor, Mehmet Selim Kiraz at the Cağlayan Court House: In a video circulated via social media, a masked hostage taker was shown holding a gun to … Continue reading →

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Dark Days Ahead: Thinking about Turkey’s Tear Gas Purchase

Posted on December 17, 2014 by heissenstat

I have been going over a number in my head these past few days.  1.9 million.  That, according to Amnesty International, is the number of tear gas canisters and gas grenades that Turkey has ordered from a South Korean manufacturer … Continue reading →

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The Trail of Impunity: Roboski and Okmeydani

Posted on March 17, 2014 by heissenstat

The protests which have shaken Turkey in the aftermath of Berkin Elvan’s death at age fifteen have generated many shocking images.  Grainy photographs from protests in Roboski/Qileban, however, struck a particular nerve with me because they highlight the extent to … Continue reading →

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Neither apology nor call for justice

Posted on March 14, 2014 by heissenstat

Many observers wondered how Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan would respond to the death of Berkin Elvan.  Berkin Elvan was a fourteen year old boy who was struck in the head by a policeman’s tear gas canister last June.  He … Continue reading →

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AI Turkey Researcher Andrew Gardner blogs from Istanbul

Posted on March 13, 2014 by heissenstat

Amnesty International’s researcher on Turkey has been in Istanbul monitoring events.  This morning, Amnesty his blog.  He writes: All the evidence suggests that Berkin died because of injuries he sustained last 16 June, when he was hit at close range … Continue reading →

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Tensions as Berkin Elvan is laid to rest

Posted on March 12, 2014 by heissenstat

Yesterday, we carried news of fifteen year old Berkin Elvan’s death. He weighed less than 36 pounds at the time of his death.  In Turkey and in cities throughout the world protests have been held in mourning and in anger.  … Continue reading →

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Human Rights Watch: Justice for Berkin

Posted on March 11, 2014 by heissenstat

Emma Sinclair-Webb of Human Rights Watch, writes on the death of Berkin Elvan: Fifteen-year-old Berkin Elvan has died after 269 days in a coma. The Istanbul schoolboy incurred a head injury that doctors say was most likely inflicted by police … Continue reading →

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Berkin Elvan, 1999 – 2014

Posted on March 11, 2014 by heissenstat

I awoke this morning to the sad news that Berkin Elvan, who has been in a coma since he was struck in the head by a police officer’s tear gas canister during the Gezi Protests, passed away last night.   I … Continue reading →

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Justice for Berkin

Posted on March 10, 2014 by heissenstat

Berkin Elvan was not a looter.  He was not even a protestor. He was – and continues to be – a victim. Fourteen years old at the time, Berkin went out to get bread for his family during the Gezi … Continue reading →

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More police violence in Istanbul [updated with link to photographs]

Posted on July 31, 2013 by heissenstat

Taksim Square was again rocked by police violence today, as police used water cannon, tear gas, and, by some accounts, rubber bullets to disperse a crowd who had gathered to protest… police violence. The protestors had gathered in response to … Continue reading →

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