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IDPs and refugees : Preliminary findings

A fact-finding mission to Van and Ankara, Turkey, in July 2006 organised by the Kurdish Human Rights Project investigated state policy and practise regarding measures to provide redress to persons displaced during the 1980's and 1990's armed conflict in East and Southeast Turkey, and the treatment of refugees and internally displaced persons in Turkey. In conducting its research, the mission established serious shortcomings in the legal framework in place to address the problems faced by these two marginalised groups. If Turkey is to institute the necessary mechanisms to remedy the situation of IDPs and refugees, the mission recommends a series of reforms which conform with international standards.

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

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

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

Briefing Paper: Freedom of Expression in Turkey

Turkey is committed under international law to secure the right to freedom of expression and has instituted numerous reforms in this area in relation to the EU accession process. Yet despite the abundance of new legislation, there remain serious concerns that the law continues to emphasise the protection of the state at the expense of the individual. In recent months the widespread apprehension has proved to be well founded. Publishers, journalists, and satirists continue to be prosecuted and convicted for non-violent expression.

If Turkey is to adequately protect the right to freedom of expression, additional reforms are needed to bring legislation in line with international standards. Furthermore, legal reform must be accompanied with a fundamental shift in the attitudes of the Turkish authorities.

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

Briefing Paper: Torture in Turkey

Turkey’s efforts to align its legislation and policy with EU standards have been positive, yet implementation on the ground has been uneven. An area of particular concern is the continuing practice of torture or ill-treatment. Perpetrators are usually law enforcement officials, gendarmerie and security forces and in recent years there has been a marked increase in more sophisticated torture methods that do not leave visible marks and ill-treatment outside of places of detention.

This report addresses the issue of torture and ill-treatment of individuals in detention and police custody in Turkey, and the most effective means of prevention.

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

KHRP Legal Review 9 (2006)

This is the only existing legal journal covering significant legislative and policy developments in the Kurdish regions of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria and elsewhere. Published biannually, this edition covers the period from January to June 2006, including summaries and analysis of the most significant decisions of the ECtHR.
Uniquely, this journal covers new cases that have not yet reached any judicial decision, but nonetheless provide invaluable updates of the most recent allegations of human rights violations to be submitted to international courts and mechanisms.

This edition features news and updates on all the Kurdish regions, as well as three newly communicated cases, seven admissibility decisions and 38 judgments of the ECtHR and the UN. The journal is essential reading for anyone interested in monitoring legal developments in Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

ISSN 1462-6535 £8.00+ £2.00 (P+P) or available

Available for £8.00 by contacting khrp@khrp.org or by downloading below

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

Effective Criminal Accountability? Extra-Judicial Killings on Trial - Trial Observation Report

On 21 November 2004 Ahmet Kaymaz, 31, and his son Ugur, 12, were killed by undercover police officers some 40 to 50 metres from their home in Kiziltepe, south-east Turkey. Proceedings were opened against four police officers on 27 December 2004, accusing them of using excessive force. This report comprises the findings of a joint trial observation mission by KHRP and the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales of the third hearing in the trial which took place in Esikehir on 24 October 2005. The mission concluded there are grave concerns over the lack of effective criminal accountability for extra-judicial killings in south-east Turkey.

ISBN 1900175959

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

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.

Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline – Fact-Finding Mission to Georgia : Human Rights, Social and Enviro

This report presents the findings of an international fact-finding mission to Georgia to investigate the impacts of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project. The mission, comprising representatives of several human rights and environmental organisations, visited towns and villages in the Tetritskaro, Borjomi and Akhaltsikhe districts, holding interviews with villagers and others affected by the project. It returned to several villages visited during earlier missions to examine developments and progress on problems encountered previously. The report highlights multiple concerns with the pipeline scheme, including expropriation of land, failure to implement acceptable environmental standards, lack of consultation, uncompensated ancillary damage, labour violations and unacceptable use of untested materials during construction.