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Kurdish Human Rights Project: This is the legacy website of the Kurdish Human Rights Project, containing reports and news pertaining to human rights issues in the Kurdish Regions for 20 years.

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KHRP Submits Report on Discrimination and Intolerance to UN
Tuesday, 22 June 2010 13:57

On 21 June, KHRP submitted a report to the UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, who works under the remit of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR). The report detailed KHRP’s concerns relating to ongoing discriminatory practices in contemporary Turkey, Iran and Syria. KHRP’s submission followed an invitation for such reports from the UN after the adoption of a resolution by the General Assembly in March 2010 entitled ‘Inadmissibility of certain practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance’.

Discrimination against minority cultural, social and political groups remains alarmingly commonplace in the Kurdish regions, with Kurds at particular risk of harassment, assault, arbitrary arrest and detention, and even execution as a result of their cultural identity. Women too continue to suffer systemic discriminatory practices compared to their male peers, with Kurdish women facing a double bind. KHRP’s report highlighted major ongoing concerns in the regions, notably: the perpetuation of ethno-nationalism as the constitutional basis for Turkish citizenship; the improper use of Anti-Terror Laws to harass Turkey’s Kurdish population; the unequal treatment of Kurdish children; the ongoing persecution – often involving executions - of opposition cultural, political and social groups in Iran; disappearances and apparent ‘suicides’ of Kurdish and other minority military conscripts in Syria; the continuing prevalence of hate crimes and gender-based violence throughout the regions.

‘Despite persistent international pressure, Kurdish and other minority groups in Turkey, Iran and Syria continue to experience significant forms of discrimination as a result of their identity or social, cultural and political beliefs and practices,’ said KHRP Managing Director, Rachel Bernu. ‘Against this backdrop, KHRP welcomes the UNHCHR’s recent focus on tackling the persistence and resurgence of such practices which we firmly believe have no place in any modern, democratic society.’

A copy of the report may be downloaded from the KHRP website here.