Threat to Human Rights Association - Website Hacked

The internet site of the Human Rights Association (İHD) was hacked on Wednesday (22 March). The association announced in a statement made on Thursday that the attack was related to the press release entitled "Newroz Piroz Be!" regarding this year's Newroz celebrations.

In the press release published on their website, the İHD condemned the attack on Kurdish politician and MP Ahmet Türk during the celebrations in Batman.

The organization had furthermore declared in the press release to document the rights violations that occurred during the Newroz celebrations in a public report. They demanded to launch an effective investigation regarding the deaths and injured.

The İHD brought the hacking of their site into connection with their press release. They announced in their statement, "Condemning the attack against Ahmet Türk is the duty of anybody who wants peace and democracy to settle in this country.

24 İHD members killed since 1986

The statement was issued from the İHD Head Office. It was emphasized that the organization was threatened with the words "One night we might suddenly come".

The İHD requested the judiciary "take this threat seriously and launch an effective probe". 24 members and executives of the human rights organization were killed in armed attacks since the İHD was founded in 1986, the organization reminded.

The armed attack on Akın Birdal in 1998, then President of the İHD, was particularly emphasized. At 12.20 hrs on 12 May 1998, two people came to the İHD office to talk to Akın Birdal. When they were about to leave the after the talk, they suddenly turned around and shot at Birdal before they escaped.

A total of 13 bullets were shot at Birdal who was hit by six of them. He was taken to hospital. (YY)