ORDER TO CLOSE DIYABAKIR HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION BRANCH DOWN
Press Release: 24 May 1997
On 23 May 1997 an official order, signed by the Governor, banned the Diyarbakir
Branch of the Human Rights Association.
This order, under article 54 of the Law of Associations, follows the arrest
of several members of the Board of Management of the Human Rights on 22 May.
(see KHRP Press Release of 22/5/97).
The information received by the KHRP states that on 23 May at 17.00 hrs., the IHD were informed that the activities of the Human Rights Association had been banned by Security Directorate Order No 542 of 23 May 1997, approved by the Governor of Diyarbakir, in accordance with Article 54 of the Law of Associations. It is further stated that the Branch building has been sealed off.
Under the provisions of Article 54 of the Law of Associations (Law No. 2908 of 1983), an association may be banned when carrying out activities which are against the indivisibility integrity of the state. The legislation provides that the Governor can order the closure of the Association, pending aprosecution or criminal prosecution, if in the public interest and if the delay would cause damage.
There is no information, as yet, for the reasons given as the grounds for issuing this order.
The Human Rights Association of Turkey is a non-governmental organization which was established in 1986. The Headquarters of the IHD is in Ankara and it has 60 local branches, approximately, around Turkey with almost 16.000 members.
The chairman of the Diyarbakir Branch of IHD, Mahmut
SAKAR, and Vice-chairman of the National Branch of the Human Rights Association,
is amongst those detained yesterday. There is no further information available
on their situation.
For further information please contact: Kerim Yildiz, Executive Director / Fiona McKay, Deputy Director / Sally Eberhardt, Public Relations Officer Kurdish Human Rights Project on the address below.
Please e-mail KHRP at khrp@khrp.org,
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