The Kurdish Human Rights Project condemns the imprisonment of Akin Birdal.
Press Release: 3 June 1999
Today one of Turkey’s leading human rights activists will be imprisoned
for daring to attempt to promote a peaceful solution to the Kurdish question.
Akin Birdal, President of the Human Rights Association of Turkey (IHD) will
begin his jail term of nine and a half months today on charges of promoting
Kurdish separatism and using the term "the Kurdish people". In September
1996, Birdal made a speech at the World Peace Day calling for a democratic
and peaceful solution to the Kurdish question. In July 1998 he was sentenced
for "inciting people to hatred and enmity on the basis of class, race
or regional difference".
Not only does he face months languishing in a Turkish jail, but he could completely
lose the use of his right arm if he continues to be denied the crucial medical
treatment abroad that he has been demanding ever since the assassination attempt
saw him hospitalised and fighting for his life in May last year.
Birdal was sentenced in accordance with Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code.
Amnesty International will now consider Akin Birdal a prisoner of conscience.
The imprisonment of Birdal represents a wider policy of harassment against
the Human Rights Association of Turkey as the Turkish government seeks to
ensure the widespread closure of the branch.
The Kurdish Human Rights Project reiterates its call for restrictions on freedom
of expression in Turkey to be lifted. The Turkish authorities, with the aid
of the international community, should examine the provisions of Turkish law,
including the Penal Code and the Anti-Terror Law, to ensure compliance with
Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights and Turkey’s other
international legal obligations.
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,
to be placed on our Press Release mailing list.
