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.

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.

Kurdish Human Rights Project is pleased to announce the publication of it 2007 Impact Report.  

Impact Report 2007 presents a unique insight into KHRP’s impact in Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria and the Caucasus over 2007. Its impact has been achieved through a combination of litigation, advocacy, training, trial observations, fact-finding, research and public awareness initiatives. The report should be viewed as an essential resource for those interested in the human rights situation in the Kurdish regions throughout last year.

The report can be downloaded free of charge from our download library. Print copies will be available on request from next week.

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