Human Rights Activists Face Police Obstacle

Istanbul police declined to let human rights activists in downtown to make a statement on December 10 Human Rights Day. The incident reminded of last year, as the police had a similar attitude towards human rights activists. 

“Human Rights Every Day,” a banner said. Activists also chanted slogans. 

“The governor’s office banned”

As activists assembled around Taksim Square around noon, police took notice and several police tanks and forces were present. 

Negotiations between police authorities failed even though İHD İstanbul Branch Chairman Abdulbaki Boğa reminded that it was their right to make a public statement. 

“The laws make certain restriction,” police authorities contended, reminding that the governor’s office banned statement in public squares. 

Later on, the statement was made in front of police barricade. 

Human rights struggle will continue 

Abdulbaki Boğa summarized in Kurdish the statement drafted by İHD and Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (THİV) .

The statement underlined that human rights abuses continued severely in Turkey with workplace murders, migration issues due to the unrest in the Middle East, Kobanê Resistance and police violence on protestors. 

THİV Chairperson Şebnem Korur Fincancı reminded that Boğatekin’s speaking of Kurdish must not be despised as Kurdish language has yet to be liberated in Turkey as well as lack of education rights in Kurdish. 

Fincancı also added that even the law enforcement teams would need human rights one day.

“And we will be along their side,” she said. (BK/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.