Rümeysa Deniz Kaya, a member of the Central Executive Board of the Human Rights Association (IHD), emphasized that the new period initiated by Abdullah Öcalan’s call on February 27 represents an important opportunity for establishing a lasting and honorable peace in Turkey and for ending the long-standing, chronic human rights violations.
She stated that leaving the Kurdish question unresolved for more than a century has led to severe human rights violations. According to Kaya, a permanent solution can only be achieved through a comprehensive process that uncovers the truth, builds societal trust, confronts the past, and ensures legal and political transformation on the basis of equal citizenship.
Kaya said, “Kurdish question resolution experiences from previous years have shown the public that peace cannot be achieved solely at the negotiating table; it requires societal participation, justice, and truth-based reckoning. For this reason, it is essential that efforts toward peace be supported with sincere and transparent steps.”
Rümeysa Deniz Kaya added: “For this process to succeed, it is essential to establish pluralistic, transparent mechanisms that are open to public oversight. Safe communication rights must be ensured for Abdullah Öcalan to actively participate in the negotiations, along with opportunities for him to meet regularly with civil society and political party representatives; his physical conditions must also be brought into compliance with international law. An approach must be adopted in which not only the parties to the conflict, but society as a whole, are involved in the process, and care should be taken to ensure broad participation in decision-making processes. A new founding constitution can only gain legitimacy through pluralistic methods based on public participation. A constitution that paves the way for democratic transformation should not be imposed from above but should be a social contract aligned with the needs of society. The mother tongue of the Kurdish people, their cultural rights, and their demands for equal citizenship must be constitutionally guaranteed on the basis of equal citizenship. In addition, the Anti-Terror Law should be repealed and replaced with legislation in line with human rights norms, which will legitimize participation in the process and reduce polarization. Necessary legal and legislative measures must be taken for the release of political prisoners, which will strengthen the social legitimacy of peace. The enforcement regime for political prisoners should be brought in line with international standards and their access to rights should be ensured.”
Kaya stated that, as members of the IHD, they will continue to support the emerging new process by documenting and reporting human rights violations despite all challenges, just as they have done in the past. She said, “We hope for an honorable life in our land, free from human rights violations, and full of social peace and freedoms.”
Tahir Saçaklı, Director of the Amed (Diyarbakir) Branch of the IHD, listed the rights violations identified in the report:
Violations of the right to life
* In the region’s cities, incidents of “arbitrary killing, use of firearms and disproportionate force, failure to comply with stop warnings,” and “extrajudicial execution” by security forces resulted in the death of one civilian.
* In regional prisons, one prisoner died due to various illnesses and three prisoners reportedly died by suicide. Due to official errors and negligence, at least three civilians lost their lives, while at least 18 others were injured in various ways. In the region’s cities, at least one law enforcement officer died under suspicious circumstances, reportedly by suicide.
* In the region’s cities, at least one political party member, one doctor, and three healthcare workers were attacked. At least one teacher and one local government official died as a result of attacks. In clashes in the region’s cities and across the border, at least seven law enforcement officers and 16 armed militants lost their lives.
* In the region’s cities, at least 42 civilians, including 10 children, 23 women, and 9 men, died under suspicious circumstances.
Violations in conflict zones
* In four cities in the region and their surrounding districts, 14 separate declarations of “special security zones” were issued, covering hundreds of areas.
* At least one body of an armed militant was not handed over to the family, and at least one militant’s body was delivered to the family only after significant delays despite repeated attempts. At least three cemeteries containing the graves of militants were attacked.
* Regarding allegations of at least two mass graves in the region’s cities, investigations were carried out by authorized bodies and civil society organizations.
Women’s right to life
* As a result of domestic violence, at least 18 women lost their lives, while three women were injured in various ways.
* In public spaces, at least six women were killed and two were injured due to attacks. At least two women were subjected to sexual assault, and at least four women were forced into prostitution.
Children’s right to life
* In the region’s cities, at least one child attempted suicide. At least one child was subjected to domestic violence, and at least nine children were subjected to sexual abuse.
* As a result of violence in public spaces, at least two children lost their lives and at least two others were injured. In public spaces, at least 27 children were subjected to sexual abuse, and two children were forced into prostitution.
Torture
* In the region, at least six civilians were subjected to torture and ill-treatment while in custody, and 257 civilians were subjected to torture and ill-treatment outside of detention facilities (in the street, during house raids). At least 18 prisoners were subjected to torture and ill-treatment in prisons.
* At least four civilians were subjected to pressure by law enforcement officers to work as informants, and one journalist was threatened.
Personal freedom and security
* In the region’s cities, at least 518 civilians, including one child, were taken into custody. At least 62 civilians, including five children, were arrested. At least one civilian was placed under house arrest. In the region, at least 112 homes or workplaces were raided.
Freedom of thought and expression
* In the region, at least three events were banned from being held. At least six books or printed publications were ordered to be confiscated. Courts and magistrates in the region issued access bans on at least ten news websites. In 40 investigation files, legal proceedings were initiated against at least 143 civilians.
* In 13 court cases, 45 civilians were put on trial. In 32 cases involving politicians and journalists, 65 civilians received various prison sentences or fines. In the region, at least one association and one municipal building were attacked or raided.
Freedom of assembly and demonstration
* Security forces intervened in at least 12 meetings and demonstrations. At least one meeting or demonstration was canceled by provincial governors or district governors. In five cities in the region, provincial governors issued at least six bans on meetings and demonstrations, each lasting for several days.
Prisons
* In prisons, at least 12 inmates were transferred to other facilities without their consent, either without explanation or on various grounds. The right to health of at least eight inmates, the right to communication of at least two inmates, and the right to participate in social activities of at least three inmates were violated.
* Investigations were launched against at least three inmates, and at least two inmates were given disciplinary punishments. The release of at least ten inmates was postponed for various reasons, including not appearing before the board, having disciplinary penalties, not expressing remorse, or refusing to participate in ceremonies on religious or national days.
Economic and social rights
* In workplace accidents under unsafe working conditions, at least 49 workers, including three children, lost their lives, and 12 workers, including three children were injured. At least 139 workers were dismissed from their jobs, and at least one person faced an administrative investigation.
Discrimination
* At least one person was attacked because of their religious beliefs, and in at least two incidents, sports teams were attacked on the basis of ethnicity.
* Trustees were appointed to three municipalities in the region.
* The right to health of at least two civilians was violated.
* The right to housing of at least three civilians was violated.
* In the region, at least ten incidents of forest fires, mining exploration, and tree cutting occurred.
* According to the report, at least 1,820 rights violations were identified in the region.
Source: ANF News
