Human Rights Watch (HRW) recommends that engagement with Syria should include human rights:
Western countries looking to increase engagement with Syria should know that Syrian authorities continue to arrest, try, and harass political and human rights activists, Human Rights Watch said today. In May 2008, Syrian authorities detained a political writer, began the trial of two [...]
The Agence France-Presse reports on a statement by the National Organization of Human Rights in Syria regarding the recent arrest of a pro-Kurdish political party chief. Mohammed Mussa was arrested in Syria under special emergency laws after expressing his party’s views to the Arab media.
Damascus (AFP) - The head of a banned Kurdish political group [...]
In a communiqué released through their website, the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan reports on the arrest of at least 86 Kurds in the Bokan region of Kurdistan in Iran after participating in a general strike. No official statements have been released by Iranian authorities to confirm or deny this report.
86 civilians have allegedly [...]
The Danish-based television broadcaster, Roj-TV, was recently banned in Germany after officials declared that they believe the station shows support for the conflict between the Turkish military and Kurdish rebels in Turkey. The German Interior Ministry said Roj-TV was serving as a mouthpiece for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or the PKK, which is outlawed [...]
From Bia News Center:
A German citizen child whose father is a political refuge was not allowed to enter Turkey since his name included previously banned W letter, although this law is not in effect any longer. The DTP submits a motion of question.
A German citizen child whose father is a political refugee was not allowed [...]
From Reporters Without Borders:
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) firmly condemns the 11-year prison sentence imposed on Kurdish journalist Mohammad Sadegh Kabovand on 22 June for “activity against national security.” The organisation has also learned that the daily Tehran Emrooz was closed on 21 June, a few days after running several articles criticising President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s economic [...]
From The National by Thomas Seibert, (Foreign Correspondent):
Turkish Kurdish party threatened
ISTANBUL // As Turkey awaits the outcome of a court case aimed at banning the country’s ruling party, the main pro-Kurdish party has also been fighting for survival before the same court in a case that highlights Turkey’s continued problems to deal with the Kurdish [...]
IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
ALERT - TURKEY 6 June 2008
Three members of children’s choir face charges of “making propaganda for a terrorist organisation” after singing Kurdish song in U.S. music festival
(Antenna-TR/IFEX) - Three children, members of the Diyarbakir Yenisehir Council Children’s Choir [Koma Dengê Zarokên Amedê - The Children’s [...]
Alliance for Kurdish Rights (AKR) is concerned for the well-being and safety of civilians in the Kurdistan Federal Region in Iraq after months of heavy bombardments by the Turkish and Iranian militaries. On May 4th, 2008, the LA Times reported the destruction of another border village town, Rezga, as a result of cross-border airstrikes and [...]
The authorities continued to suppress dissent. Journalists, writers, scholars, and women’s rights and community activists were subject to arbitrary arrest, travel bans, closure of their NGOs and harassment. Armed opposition, mainly by Kurdish and Baluchi groups, continued, as did state repression of Iran’s minority communities. Discrimination against women remained entrenched in law and practice. Torture [...]
