Tag Archives: PKK

Amnesty: Drastic Increase in Allegations of Excessive Force in Turkey

Posted on March 2, 2016 by heissenstat

Amnesty International highlighted a “dramatic increase” in allegations of excessive use of force by Turkish security forces in the past year.  It noted that lethal force has routinely been employed during anti-terrorism operations, but that “the absence of effective investigations … Continue reading →

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Amnesty’s Annual Report 2015: “Marked Deterioration” of Human Rights in Turkey

Posted on February 24, 2016 by heissenstat

In a few short pages, Amnesty International’s 2015 Annual Report detailed a rapidly deteriorating human rights environment in Turkey, particularly after the 2015 parliamentary elections and the outbreak of violence between the Turkish government and Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK) in … Continue reading →

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Amnesty: Turkish Rights Abuses Must Not be Forgotten

Posted on February 10, 2016 by heissenstat

When Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu arrived in Netherlands today for one-day talks with his counterpart, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, activists from Amnesty International were there to greet him.  Their message was simple: Turkey’s on-going human rights abuses can not … Continue reading →

Posted in Amnesty International, Davutoglu, Due Process, Erdogan, Excessive Force, Freedom of Press, Kurds, PKK, Turkey, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Amnesty: Turkish Rights Abuses Must Not be Forgotten

The Crisis in Cizre continues

Posted on January 28, 2016 by heissenstat

Amnesty International today renewed its call for Turkish authorities to allow emergency medical care for injured individuals stranded in a basement in the town of Cizre, where they sought shelter on 23 January amid ongoing clashes between the army and … Continue reading →

Posted in Amnesty International, Andrew Gardner, Anti-terrorism, Excessive Force, Kurds, Military, Minorities, Turkey, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Crisis in Cizre continues

Amnesty calls on Turkey to End Abusive Operations

Posted on January 20, 2016 by heissenstat

In a briefing and press release today (January 21) , Amnesty International renewed its call to Turkish authorities to “end the indefinite curfews in Kurdish neighbourhoods across east and south-east Turkey.” For several months, Amnesty International has been urging the … Continue reading →

Posted in Academic Freedom, Andrew Gardner, Anti-terrorism, Erdogan, Excessive Force, Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Press, Impunity, Kurds, PKK, Press Freedom, Terrorism, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Amnesty calls on Turkey to End Abusive Operations

Join Amnesty’s call for Justice in the Murder of Tahir Elci

Posted on December 10, 2015 by heissenstat

Abdi Ipekci.  Uğur Mumcu.  Hrant Dink. And then, on November 28 of this year, Tahir Elçi. The murder of journalists and human rights defenders in Turkey has a long and tragic history.  More often than not, the circumstances of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Amnesty International, Andrew Gardner, Internet Freedom, Kurds, Turkey, Urgent Action | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Join Amnesty’s call for Justice in the Murder of Tahir Elci

On the Arrest of Tahir Elci: Ideas are not “Terror” [Updated 21 October]

Posted on October 19, 2015 by heissenstat

According to multiple news sources, an arrest warrant has been issued for Diyarbakır Bar Association head Tahir Elçi over a statement he made last week, saying “the PKK is not a terror organization.”  On Twitter, Emma Sinclair-Webb, Senior Turkey Researcher … Continue reading →

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Turkish police again detain foreign journalist

Posted on September 6, 2015 by heissenstat

VICE journalist Mohammed Ismael Rasool continues to languish in pre-trial detention under terrorism charges that Amnesty’s Andrew Gardner has described as “unsubstantiated, outrageous and bizarre.”  Meanwhile, we received word today that Dutch journalist Frederike Geerdink has also been detained by Turkish … Continue reading →

Posted in Amnesty International, Andrew Gardner, Anti-terrorism, Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Press, PKK, Turkey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Turkish police again detain foreign journalist

Amnesty Issues Urgent Action on Injured Prisoners

Posted on August 26, 2015 by heissenstat

The conflict between Turkey and the Kurdish PKK has once again turned ugly, with significant evidence of abuses and, according to the New York Times, more than 800 killed in recent weeks.  For its part, Amnesty International has been working … Continue reading →

Posted in Amnesty International, Excessive Force, Military, Minorities, PKK, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Amnesty Issues Urgent Action on Injured Prisoners

Where is the outrage? Another child killed in Eastern Turkey [Updated, January 13]

Posted on January 7, 2015 by heissenstat

According to press reports, January 6 witnessed another day of fatal police violence in Cizre, Turkey.  The town has seen repeated clashes between supporters of the PKK and police in recent weeks.  In the violence yesterday, several were injured and … Continue reading →

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