KHRP is gravely concerned by the overall human rights situation within Syria, despite some positive steps made by the Syrian regime, including reinstating citizenship rights to the majority of its citizens of Kurdish origin.

KHRP condemns the ongoing violent repression of dissent, including indiscriminate shootings , arbitrary detention, and ongoing ill treatment of those in detention by the regime. Reports coming out of the country have indicated that despite the aforementioned concessions, repression and state violence have intensified over recent days. The repression also appears to be targeting those who are trying to report the situation on the ground in Syria, with reports of journalists being detained in recent days without justification.

Syria must respect its people's right to express themselves peacefully and their right to demand their universally recognised rights, rights that Syria is obligated to respect through the various international human rights treaties to which it is a party. Syria must ensure that its security forces are held accountable for their actions, and guarantee the safety of all of its citizens regardless of what beliefs they may hold.

KHRP's chief executive, Kerim Yildiz, said today: 'Responding to legitimate and peacefully expressed demands with extreme violence, intimidation and repression is unacceptable behaviour for any state to engage in. Despite showing signs of progress with the concessions and reforms announced recently, the Syrian authorities appear to still be bent on preventing the enjoyment of freedom of expression through whatever means necessary. KHRP calls on Syria to change its approach to dissent and free expression, whilst also calling on the international community to urge Syria to respect the rights of its citizens'.

Today on the United Nations’ International Day of Non-Violence, KHRP is pleased to announce the release of its latest fact-finding mission report,
‘The Civilian Toll of Cross-Border Operations in Iraq’.

For the past 26 months Turkey and Iran have been engaging in extensive cross-border military operations in northern Iraq, ostensibly with the purpose of fighting the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK), Kurdish separatist groups seen as threats to their national security. Mounting evidence indicates that far from being isolated cases of belligerence, these two states often work in concert with each other, harmonising their attacks. Despite persistent claims from both governments that these campaigns are only directed at the PKK and PJAK, a claim sustained by the media which largely portrays the air strikes and offences as being directed solely at military targets, multiple KHRP missions to northern Iraq have provided compelling evidence of the significant harm caused to the civilian population by Turkey and Iran’s ongoing operations.