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Voluntary Application Form

Voluntary Application Form and Equal Opportunities Policy

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Turkey's Accession to the EU: Democracy, Human Rights and the Kurds

This publication, presented at the 2nd annual EUTCC conference on Turkey , the Kurds and the EU in September 2005, discusses the background to Turkey 's accession to the EU. It evaluates the likely impact of EU membership on the democratisation process within Turkey and its likely benefits for human rights and fundamental freedoms and for Turkey 's Kurdish population. The publication goes on to assess the reforms that have been enacted thus far as part of the accession process, particularly the amendments that have been made to the Turkish Penal Code. Whilst acknowledging that great strides have been made, it ultimately concludes that a lot of work remains to be done on the part of the Turkish administration if the accession process is to fulfil the promise that it has engendered.

ISBN 19001750991

Available for £10.00 by contacting khrp@khrp.org or by downloading below

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Turkey on Trial: The Prosecutions of Orhan Pamuk & Other Writers – Trial Observation Report

The Turkish government continues to deny the extent of the human rights violations and genocide committed against Kurds and Armenians in Turkey during the twentieth century. The renowned Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk referred to this in a media interview in Switzerland in February 2005. His comments attracted the attention of a Turkish prosecutor, who brought an indictment against Pamuk for ‘publicly insulting Turkish national identity’ under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code. The prosecution became a flashpoint of concern over Turkey’s protection of freedom of expression, and a litmus test for its suitability for accession to the EU.


KHRP and the BHRC sent a mission to observe his trial and to interview others facing similar charges. Charges against Pamuk were subsequently dropped, but the question remains: why was the prosecution originally brought? And what will happen/ has happened to other lesser-known writers, editors, publishers and journalists facing similar prosecutions in Turkey?

ISBN 1900175967


Available for £10.00 by contacting khrp@khrp.org or by downloading below

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Torture in Turkey : The Current Status of Torture and Ill-treatment

Turkey has signed numerous treaties agreeing not to subject its population to torture or ill-treatment and to actively prevent it occurring. The Constitution of Turkey forbids it. Yet despite these commitments the practice of torture and ill-treatment persists.

Whilst the legal reforms of the last few years have been positive, torture in Turkey remains serious and systematic. Potentially retrogressive steps in Turkey's reform process require immediate attention, and further effort is needed to bring about widespread and effective change on the ground. ‘Zero tolerance' must correspond to 100 per cent accountability, and if Turkey is serious about ending torture, it must ensure that potential victims are protected and perpetrators are answerable to the courts.

Available for free by contacting khrp@khrp.org or by downloading below

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The Status of Internally Displaced Kurds in Turkey : Return and Compensation Rights – An Update

KHRP recently returned from Turkey where it gathered evidence on the situation and status of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Turkey. The mission was carried out by KHRP Legal Officer, Lucy Claridge and Legal Team member, barrister Catriona Vine to investigate state policy and practise regarding measures to provide redress to persons displaced during the armed conflict in east and south-east Turkey in the 1980s and 1990s. The mission discovered severe failings in the legislative mechanisms designed to deal fairly with IDPs and their claims for compensation. Without essential reforms to ameliorate the legal provisions available to displaced persons, this already marginalised group may never receive a just solution to their plight.

Publication available for 10 GBP from khrp@khrp.org or +44 (0) 207 405 3835, ISBN 1 905592 05 1 or by downloading below:

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Taking Human Rights Complaints to UN Mechanisms: A Manual

Aiming to provide a guide to taking human rights complaints to UN mechanisms, this manual provides an update to KHRP's 2003 edition of Taking Human Rights Complaints to UN Mechanisms. The UN aims to achieve the promotion and encouragement of respect for human rights through three categories of human rights bodies: the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, those established by the UN Charter (Charter-based bodies) and those established by provisions in specific legal instruments (treaty-based bodies). Written by Kerim Yildiz, Executive Director, and Lucy Claridge, Legal Officer, the manual provides an overview of the different mechanisms and guides to their use. In addition, the manual also includes updated versions of key texts, such as texts of the reservations and declarations entered into by member states in the Kurdish regions, model complaint forms and guidelines for the submission of complaints.

Publication available for 10 GBP from khrp@khrp.org or +44 (0) 207 405 3835, or by downloading below:

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Taking Cases to the European Court of Human Rights: A Manual

Intended to inform practitioners and interested individuals on the practical usage of the Strasbourg mechanisms, KHRP has published an update to its manual, Taking Cases to the European Court of Human Rights. Written by Kerim Yildiz, Executive Director, and Lucy Claridge, Legal Officer, the manual provides commentaries on the practice and procedure of the European Court, in addition to key texts such as the European Convention, the Court's application form and details of the legal aid available from the Court. It also now includes updated sections on admissibility rules, just satisfaction claims and enforcing judgments, together with information regarding the changes to be introduced by Protocol 14.

The manual has been distributed to human rights lawyers and individuals at KHRP's training sessions in Turkey and the Caucasus in order to aid them in utilising the European Court of Human Rights to improve respect for human rights on the ground. Updates in Turkish and Russian languages will be available shortly.

Publication available for 10 GBP from khrp@khrp.org or +44 (0) 207 405 3835, or by downloading below:

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Suppressing Academic Debate: The Turkish Penal Code - Trial Observation Report

KHRP sent a trial observation mission to Turkey in February 2006 to observe the trails of Professor Baskin Oran and Professor Ibrahim Özden Kaboglu, members of the Human Rights Advisory Board of the Prime Ministry. These two individuals were charged under articles 301 and 216 of the revised Turkish Penal Code, following the release of a report which argued that "Turk" is an identity of only one ethnic group and that Turkey also includes other ethnic groups such as "Kurds" or "Arabs", a statement considered to be sufficient "denigration" of the state to warrant criminal proceedings. The report concludes that despite the amendments that have been enacted, the Turkish Penal Code continues to exert a "chilling effect" on free expression in Turkey.

ISBN 1900175975


Available for £10.00 by contacting khrp@khrp.org or by downloading below

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Promoting Conflict – the Şemdinli Bombing. Trial Observation Report

In April 2006, KHRP Legal Team member, Ajanta Kaza, travelled to Turkey to observe the trial of two of three men accused involvement in the bombing of a bookshop in the town of Semdinli in the province of Hakkari.

The incident sent shock waves throughout Turkey and internationally because the three individuals accused of planting the explosive devices – together with incriminating material – were apprehended by a crowd of civilians at the scene. Two of the men were non-commissioned army officers, raising the spectre of ‘deep state' involvement in the attacks. The report expresses concern that no investigation was conducted of higher level official involvement and at the high degree of political involvement in the Semdinli incident by the government, state officials and senior military personnel.

Available for £10.00 by contacting khrp@khrp.org or by downloading below

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Kurdish Culture in the UK – Briefing Paper

The Kurdish community in the United Kingdom provides a rich fabric of cultural expression and talent from which the rest of society can benefit. A number of significant Kurdish cultural projects have been located in the UK, and Kurds have received a degree of acceptance in mainstream culture. This briefing paper highlights measures that could support such intergration, including the need for accurate ethnic monitoring, the encourage of Kurdish language education by education institutions and by parents, by according political rights to refugees, and by developing relationships between the Kurdish community and bodies such as the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights. The paper was presented at a Council of Europe Hearing on Kurdish Culture in January 2006.

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