Tag Archives: Istanbul

Violence and new tragedy in Turkey

Posted on May 23, 2014 by heissenstat

Another horrible picture taken tonight in #Istanbul during protests for #UğurKurt-killed by police in a funeral house http://t.co/PzdNw2RPNd — Murat Çekiç (@muratcekic) May 22, 2014 It has been an ugly month in Turkey.  First, shocking scenes of excessive force and … Continue reading →

Posted in Amnesty International, Erdogan, Excessive Force, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression, Gezi Park, Minorities, Religious Freedom, Taksim, Turkey, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Violence and new tragedy in Turkey

Insult to injury in Turkey in the aftermath of the Soma Tragedy

Posted on May 16, 2014 by heissenstat

If the “woman in the red dress” has become the central image of the Gezi protests, it seems likely that images of Yusuf Yerkel, an aide to Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, brutally kicking a demonstrator will become one of … Continue reading →

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Morning update on Amnesty and the Soma Mining Disaster

Posted on May 15, 2014 by heissenstat

The man doing the kicking is the adviser to the Turkish PM http://t.co/5Z3oVBcXir pic.twitter.com/5CkuKfIebw — The Independent (@Independent) May 15, 2014 A very brief update on Amnesty’s response to the Soma Mining Disaster this morning:

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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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Clashes in Istanbul over proposed Internet restrictions

Posted on February 8, 2014 by heissenstat

News reports from Istanbul this evening describe police attempts to cordon off sections of Taksim from protestors.  The reports describe police using tear gas and water cannon to disperse the crowds. According to Reuters: Riot police advanced along Istanbul’s Istiklal … Continue reading →

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Release of major report Amnesty Report on Gezi Crackdown

Posted on October 2, 2013 by heissenstat

I have worked on human rights in Turkey for well over a decade now, first volunteering at shelters for refugees and migrants as a doctoral student and, later, as Country Specialist for Amnesty International.  Working with any large institutions brings … Continue reading →

Posted in Amnesty International, Excessive Force, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression, Impunity, Internet Freedom, Press Freedom, Turkey, Uncategorized, Women's Rights | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Release of major report Amnesty Report on Gezi Crackdown