As reported earlier this month, an estimated 200 Kurdish prisoners of conscience have initiated a hunger strike in the prisons of Iran. The Committee for the Support of Hunger Strike for Kurdish Political Prisoners released the following three reports on their conditions, translated to English by Iranian activist, Sayeh Hassan:
21st Day of the Hunger [...]
Thomas Seibert reports on the pending trial against the main Kurdish political party in Turkey, the Democratic Society Party (DTP). The DTP is the just the latest Kurdish party of several that have had to face the threat of closure by the Turkish Constitutional Court. Since 1993, the courts have banned 3 Kurdish parties that [...]
Massoud Kordpour is a Kurdish human rights activist who has been arrested for the second time by the Iranian authorities supposedly for “spying” for foreign governments:
This time authorities accused him of being a spy after he gave interviews to foreign news sources that broadcast in Farsi and Kurdish languages.
Kordpour is the founder of the Foundation [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Recent Announcement by the Kurdish Human Rights Project (KHRP):
KHRP is pleased to announce the publication of issue 13 of its biannual Legal Review, and its latest Trial Observation Report, ‘Persecuting Publishers, Stifling Debate: Freedom of Expression in Turkey’.
KHRP’s Legal Review is the only existing legal journal covering significant legislative and policy developments in the Kurdish [...]
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 [...]
Human Rights Watch released a report yesterday documenting that the Syrian authorities continue to arrest, try, and harass political and human rights activists. Amidst increasing calls in Western countries to increase diplomatic engagement with Syrian authorities, Human Rights Watch urged that “an improvement in the treatment of these activists be at the heart of any [...]
