Sütun 1
Sütun 2
Sütun 3
Medya News
Daily News
Breaking News
Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • All News
  • Opinion
  • Kurdistan
  • Women
  • Politics
  • Human Rights
  • INTERVIEW
  • More
    • SPECIAL REPORTS
    • ECOLOGY
    • WORLD
    • AUDIO ARTICLES
    • JOURNALISM
    • ECONOMY
    • CULTURE & ART
    • LONG READS
    • NEWSLETTER
    • DAILY NEWS
MULTIMEDIA
PODCAST
LIVE BLOG
  • Home
  • All News
  • Opinion
  • Kurdistan
  • Women
  • Politics
  • Human Rights
  • INTERVIEW
  • More
    • SPECIAL REPORTS
    • ECOLOGY
    • WORLD
    • AUDIO ARTICLES
    • JOURNALISM
    • ECONOMY
    • CULTURE & ART
    • LONG READS
    • NEWSLETTER
    • DAILY NEWS
MULTIMEDIA
PODCAST
No Result
View All Result
Medya News

No Respite for Turkey’s Political Prisoners

Political prisoners in Turkey have frequently been subjected to prolonged periods of pre-trial detention without due process. Many detainees spend years awaiting trial, a violation of their basic human rights and the principle of "innocent until proven guilty". This practice has had a disproportionate impact on the Kurdish community, where political activism has been met with harsh state repression.

10:41 am 26/07/2023
A A
No Respite for Turkey’s Political Prisoners
Share post

Robin Fleming

Political prisoners have once again become the center of attention in Turkey as the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has recently introduced a new widely-debated regulation referred to as a ‘special amnesty.’ This regulation, put in place on 12 July, will lead to the release of thousands of individuals who are currently detained in Turkey. The reason for the controversy surrounding this regulation is the exclusion of political prisoners from the amnesty. https://medyanews.net/turkeys-special-amnesty-regulation-sparks-outcry-for-excluding-political-prisoners/

One of the groups to condemn what they argue is discrimination against political prisoners, is the Lawyers Association for Freedom (ÖHD). Esra Bilen, Lawyer and ÖHD Istanbul branch co-chair claimed that the message this new regulation sends is that “You can commit heinous acts like murder, sexual assault, drug trafficking or any other crime, as long as you don’t challenge or act against the state’s authority; We’ll pardon everything but that.” She also went on to highlight that the AKP’s approach to political prisoners seems ‘primitive’ and ‘vengeful.’

This is far from the first time Turkey has come under fire for its approach towards political prisoners. Turkey’s history since the 1980s has been marred by a pattern of human rights abuses concerning the treatment of political prisoners. The country has witnessed a series of military coups, authoritarian regimes, and periods of intense political repression, leading to the maltreatment of countless individuals detained for their political beliefs, most notably Kurds.

To understand the repressive nature of Turkish politics it is important to look back to 1980 when Turkey experienced a coup d’état which led to the establishment of a military junta that ruled with an iron fist for three years. The coup marked the beginning of a dark era in the country’s history, characterized by widespread human rights violations and the suppression of political dissent. During this period, political activists, intellectuals, and members of the Kurdish minority became primary targets of state-sponsored persecution.

The maltreatment of political prisoners in Turkey has often involved torture and ill-treatment during interrogations and detentions. Reports from human rights organizations have exposed a troubling pattern of physical and psychological abuse inflicted on detainees. Methods such as beatings, electric shocks, sexual assault, and solitary confinement have been employed as means to extract confessions and suppress opposition.

Political prisoners in Turkey have frequently been subjected to prolonged periods of pre-trial detention without due process. Many detainees spend years awaiting trial, a violation of their basic human rights and the principle of “innocent until proven guilty”. This practice has had a disproportionate impact on the Kurdish community, where political activism has been met with harsh state repression.

Clearly the most prominent example is that of Abdullah Öcalan, the leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Since he was arrested in 1999 and sentenced to life imprisonment, Öcalan has endured periods of complete isolation on İmralı Island, restricting his contact with the outside world and raising intense concerns about his well-being.

Besides the case of Abdullah Öcalan, there have been several other notable examples of maltreatment of Kurdish prisoners in Turkey. For example, Leyla Zana, a Kurdish politician and human rights activist, was elected to the Turkish parliament in 1991. However, her advocacy for Kurdish rights, pride in her own identity and her refusal to speak Turkish during her parliamentary oath led to her arrest in 1994. Zana was sentenced to 15 years in prison on unsubstantiated charges of supporting terrorism. During her time in prison, she endured harsh conditions and was also subjected to solitary confinement.

Ahmet Türk is another well-known Kurdish politician and a former mayor of Mardin, one of the largest cities in the predominantly Kurdish region of Turkey. In 2004, Türk was arrested on charges of being a member of the PKK, an accusation he vehemently denied. He was convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison. Türk’s arrest and trial were seen by many as politically motivated, aimed at silencing his advocacy for Kurdish rights and self-determination.

Another very famous example is Leyla Güven, a member of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and a Member of Parliament. Güven has been an outspoken advocate for Kurdish rights. In 2018, she was arrested for her involvement in protests against Operation Olive Branch when Turkey invaded Afrin in North and East Syria. Güven’s hunger strike while in prison drew international attention and highlighted the plight of Kurdish political prisoners in Turkey.

Hunger strikes have been a common form of protest among Kurdish political prisoners in Turkey. These protests are often launched to draw attention to the prisoners’ demands for improved conditions, an end to isolation, and respect for their cultural and political rights. The hunger strikes have sometimes resulted in severe health consequences for the detainees.

The Turkish government’s treatment of political prisoners, particularly Kurdish political prisoners, has faced extensive international criticism. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have documented numerous instances of abuse and have called for urgent reforms. Despite the attention and outrage the violations have received, Turkey continues these inhumane and often illegal practices.

The newly introduced amnesty which excludes political prisoners can and should be viewed for what it is – an intentional slap in the face to the thousands of political prisoners in Turkey and a message of intimidation to Kurds who might dare to politically advocate for themselves.


Share post
Tags: Trending

Related Posts

Daily News : 06 November 2024

Daily News : 06 November 2024

November 6, 2024
Daily News : 05 November 2024

Daily News : 05 November 2024

November 5, 2024
Daily News : 03 SEPTEMBER 2024

Daily News : 03 SEPTEMBER 2024

September 3, 2024
Fifty more detainees released under amnesty for internal peace in North and East Syria

Fifty more detainees released under amnesty for internal peace in North and East Syria

September 3, 2024
Uncle of missing child in Turkey arrested as case exposes broader child safety issues

Uncle of missing child in Turkey arrested as case exposes broader child safety issues

September 3, 2024
Turkey’s bid to join BRICS raises questions within NATO

Turkey’s bid to join BRICS raises questions within NATO

September 3, 2024

The news content on our website cannot be quoted without permission, even by citing the source. It cannot be copied or published elsewhere, contrary to the law or without permission.

Follow Medya News

Categories

  • All News
  • Politics
  • Human Rights
  • Opinion
  • Kurdistan
  • Human Rights
  • Interview
  • Women
  • Audio Articles
  • Special Report

Quick Menu

  • Daily News
  • Live Blog
  • Podcast
  • Videos
  • Breaking News

About

Impressum

About us

Privacy Policy

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT

Add New Playlist

[email-subscribers-form id=”1″]

Contact

[contact-form-7 id=”18690″ title=”Contact form 1″]

No Result
View All Result
  • All News
  • Kurdistan
  • Women
  • Politics
  • Human Rights
  • Interview
  • Long Reads
  • World
  • Journalism
  • Ecology
  • Economy
  • Culture & Art
  • Daily News
  • Breaking News
  • Newsletter
  • Opinion
  • Authors
  • Podcast
  • LIVE BLOG

© 2020 Medyanews. All Rights Reserved