Kurdish Human Rights Project is gravely concerned by news that the death sentence against Hiwa Butimar, a 29-year-old award-winning Kurdish journalist and environmental activist, has been confirmed. As KHRP reported last July, in 2007 Mr. Butimar received his first death sentence along with Adnan Hassanpour, also a Kurdish journalist, having spent 6 months in prison. With only 24 hours notice before the trial, neither was able to be represented by his own lawyer or be present for the trial. Mr. Butimar and Mr. Hassanpour protested their treatment in 2007 by going on hunger strike for over a month, but the sentences against both remain in place.

Mr. Butimar was arrested in 2006 for allegedly supporting a Kurdish armed group.  Legal documents relating the charges against Mr. Butimar and his trial have been kept from his family and the public, and KHRP has received reports that he has been tortured while in solitary confinement for the past year.  Mr. Butimar appealed the initial death sentence handed down by the Revolutionary Court in Mariwan, but the same judge who made the initial decision recently confirmed the sentence.  This is a clear violation of his right to fair trial and judicial review.

KHRP is pleased to announce the publication of the spring edition of our quarterly Newsline newsletter.

Newsline 41 reports on KHRP’s activities in the areas of training, fact-finding, trial observation and litigation at the European Court of Human Rights over the last three busy months.

The edition also tracks developments across the Kurdish regions over the winter/spring season.

Free copies of Newsline may be accessed and downloaded by registered users on KHRP’s website HERE. Printed copies are available on request.

Please note: to download or purchase publications from KHRP’s website you must be registered to our site. Registration is easy and free: click the 'register' link to the right of this page.

Job Title:                     Resources and Communications Co-ordinator

Location:                     London

Reporting to:              Deputy Director

Salary:                         £ 21 - 28K (depending on experience/ funds available)

Deadline:                     Open until filled (interviews to begin April 17 2008)

This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the development of the new Feeney Centre for Research and Dialogue which is part of an established, independent, non-political human rights organisation dedicated to the promotion and protection of the human rights of all persons in the Kurdish regions of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria and elsewhere. The Kurdish Human Rights Project pioneered bringing the individual petition before the European Court of Human Rights.  KHRP is a registered charity founded in London in 1992 working with its partner organisations in the regions. It functions as a catalyst for justice through its analysis, advocacy and action.

The successful candidate would manage the output of KHRP print and e-publications undertaking the editing, design and layout, updating the website, liaise with the printers and co-ordinate the outreach of KHRP materials. The role would also include the co-ordination of the organisation’s communications, maintaining and developing the Resource Centre, and a variety of other communications/ smaller publications related tasks.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

A full job description, person specification and application form are available in our website’s Employment Section.

KHRP condemns the indiscriminate use of violence and lethal force by both Syrian and Turkish security forces over the past ten days of Newroz-related celebrations and protests.

On 20 March several protesters were shot dead in the Syrian town of Qamishli when security forces used live ammunition on crowds celebrating the Newroz festival. Hundreds more were arbitrarily detained and KHRP has received several reports that those detained have suffered torture and ill treatment at the hands of their captors.