As part of efforts to intimidate the majority Kurdish population of the Amed region, Turkish military forces set a forest near Barin on fire. The operation was launched on the 30th of June with Turkish forces systematically burning the forests. As the flames began to approach nearby Kurdish neighbourhoods, residents began to protest the threat … Read more
Several political prisoners inside the Turkish carceral system have launched hunger strikes. Political prisoners in Mardin and Urfa have started an indefinite hunger strike against the unbearable conditions of detention. In the E-type prison in Mardin, Elif Deniz, Ronahi Sırdaş and Melek Evren have started an indefinite hunger strike against the violations they have suffered. … Read more
Despite growing protests, the Turkish state continue to arrest political opponents and suppress criticism of military operations against Kurdish communities. As with previous attacks on democracy, many of these repressive measures have targeted the pro-Kurdish rights HDP party. In the province of Batman, 7 people were arrested during raids by Turkish gendarmes. Those arrested in … Read more
A New Wave of Repression The Turkish state’s campaign of oppression against the HDP opposition part and of other political activists has seen increasing escalation with more arrests of democratically elected politicians especially in majority-Kurdish regions of Turkey. This new wave of repression began on Tuesday the 9th in Amed with raids against prisoner solidarity … Read more
In an interview with Kurdish journalist Erem Kansoy, UK academic Dr Thomas Phillips – lecturer in law and supporter of the London-based Peace in Kurdistan Campaign explained the key role of the imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan for peace negotiations in Turkey. He also touched about the ruling AKP party’s approach to political prisoners and the importance … Read more
The opposition MP Leyla Güven, a member of parliament for the HDP in the region of Hakkari has been unexpectedly released by Turkish authorities after her arrest on Friday 5th drew strong criticism in Turkey and around the globe. Leyla Güven has previously drawn a great deal of attention to the cause of political prisoners … Read more
On Friday the 22nd Turkish police raided the homes of several activists involved in Women’s associations and activist groups in the majority Kurdish city of Amed. 18 activists were detained by the state, and 12 of theses detainees have now been jailed relating to terrorism charges. Four activists have now been released on bail. The … Read more
We boycott the powers that oppress, and we show support for those that are oppressed: two mutually reinforcing forms of solidarity.
In response to recent undemocratic seizures of HDP municipalities by the state, party members had been due to make a press statement regarding the situation. Before the press statement could be read out however the building was attacked by police in an apparent attempt to silence democratic opposition to the regime. Police began to physically … Read more
The undemocratic seizure of five more HDP municipalities by the Turkish state has provoked protests across Europe and Turkey. With activists demonstrating against the dictatorial actions in several cities and civil society groups condemning the seizures. Europe: In France, socially distanced protests took place in various cities. Kurdish Youth Movement activists in Drancy, Toulouse and … Read more