Turkey: Police raid of NGOs offices in Diyarbakir

16 January, 2012

 

Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan,

Prime Minister

Office of the Prime Minister

Basbakanlik 06573 Ankara,

Turkey,

Fax: + 90 312 417 0476;

E-mail: receptayyip.erdogan@basbakanlik.gov.tr

 

Re: Turkey: Police raid of NGOs offices in Diyarbakir

 

Dear Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan,

 

I have been informed by the Human Rights Association (İHD) about the police raid of the offices of its Diyarbakır branch as well as that of the General Centre of the Public Workers' Trade Union (KESK), the Education Workers' Trade Union (Egitim-Sen), the Kurdish Language Research and Development Association (Kurdi-Der) and the Solidarity Association For Prisoners' and Convicts' Relatives (Tuhay-Der).

 According to the information received, in the early morning of January 13, 2012, the anti-terrorism unit of the police raided on the basis of an illegal search warrant[1] the offices in Diyarbakır of İHD, KESK, Egitim-Sen, Kurdi-Der and Tuhay-Der, in the framework of a wide ranged anti-terrorist operation intended to dismantle an alleged terrorist network – the Kurdish Communities Union (KCK)[2] – that in fact targets peaceful activists from the Kurdish community who are not related to any terrorist activities, including human rights defenders and associations. The police confiscated computers found on the premises of all organisations. All were later returned except those confiscated in İHD's offices.

I denounce the continuing harassment of human rights defenders and organisations in Turkey, and particularly İHD members, members of trade unions and those fighting against the impunity of serious crimes and calling for a peaceful resolution of the Kurd question, which seems to merely aim at sanctioning their human rights activities. To that extent, the Observatory recalls that several İHD members are currently in pre-trial detention, notably Mr. Muharrem Erbey, İHD General Vice Chairperson and Chairperson of its Diyarbakir Province branch who had been detained since December 2009, Mr. Arslan Özdemir, Ms. Roza Erdede, İHD members in Diyarbakır[3], Mr. Ragıp Zarakolu, Honorary Board Member and Founder of İHD and publisher, and Ms. Büşra Ersanlı, lecturer at the Marmara University Faculty of Political Sciences and International Relations in Istanbul[4], members of associations of families of victims of abusive anti-terrorism policies[5] and lawyers[6]. Dozens of other human rights defenders remain in provisional release pending the outcome of criminal trials on alleged terrorism charges[7].

 

Accordingly, I call upon the Turkish authorities to put an end to the continuing harassment against human rights associations and defenders and urges the Turkish authorities to stop raids and release all human rights defenders held in detention immediately and unconditionally, since their detention is arbitrary.

 

I urge you guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Ragıp Zarakolu, Ms. Büşra Ersanlı, Mr. Muharrem Erbey, Mr. Arslan Özdemir and Ms. Roza Erdede as well as all other members of İHD, KESK, Egitim-Sen, Kurdi-Der and Tuhay-Der, members of associations of families of victims of abusive anti-terrorism policies and lawyers, and in general, all human rights defenders in Turkey.

 

I also urge you please  release immediately and unconditionally Mr. Ragıp Zarakolu, Ms. Büşra Ersanlı, Mr. Muharrem Erbey, Mr. Arslan Özdemir and Ms. Roza Erdede as well as members of associations of families of victims of abusive anti-terrorism policies and lawyers who are currently detained, since their detention is arbitrary as it only aim at sanctioning their human rights activities;

Please put an end to all acts harassment, including at the judicial level, against Mr. Ragıp Zarakolu, Ms. Büşra Ersanlı, Mr. Muharrem Erbey, Mr. Arslan Özdemir and Ms. Roza Erdede as well as all other members of İHD, KESK, Egitim-Sen, Kurdi-Der, Tuhay-Der, members of associations of families of victims of abusive anti-terrorism policies and lawyers and, in general, all human rights defenders in Turkey;

I also urge you please  comply with the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, especially its Article 1, which states that "everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels", as well as Article 12.2, which provides that "the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration.

More generally, ensure in all circumstances the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international and regional human rights instruments ratified by Turkey.

I thank you for your consideration of my recommendations. Please be reassured of my highest regards.

Sincerely yours,

William Nicholas Gomes

William's Desk

www.williamgomes.org

 http://www.williamgomes.org/?p=327

 

 

[1][1] The warrant was issued by the İstanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 10 on the demand of the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecution Office in violation of rules governing jurisdiction. According to the law, only the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecution Office has the jurisdiction to apply for a search warrant concerning an association located in Diyarbakır province.

[2][2] A body said to be the "urban front" of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

[3][3] See Observatory Annual Report 2011.

[4][4] See Observatory Urgent Appeal TUR 003 / 1111 / OBS 121, issued on November 3, 2011.

[5][5] See Observatory Urgent Appeal TUR 002 / 1011 / OBS 119, issued on October 25, 2011.

[6][6] See Observatory Joint Open Letter, December 16, 2011.

[7][7] See Observatory Annual Report 2011.

 

 

 

 

 

--
William Nicholas Gomes
Journalist & Human Rights Activist
80/ B Bramon Chiron, Saydabad,
Dhaka-1203, Bangladesh.
Cell: +88 019 7 444 0 666
E-mail:William [at] williamgomes.org,editorbd[at]gmail.com
Skype: William.gomes9
Face book: www.facebook.com/williamnicholasgomes
Twitter: twitter.com/williamgomes
Web site :www.williamgomes.org

--
Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups.
For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum
 
* Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/
* It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls.
* Read the latest breaking news, and more.