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The United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner’s call to allow independent researchers by saying “There are reports indicating unarmed civilians have been shot during operations in Turkey’s southeast” has been accepted.
In the statement bearing the signature of Human Rights High Commissioner Spokesperson Rupert Colville, it has been noted that Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has invited them via letter for research and investigation.
United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner, Zeid Raad al-Hussein in his statement on May 10 has called for Turkey to permit independent investigators to examine human rights violations committed by security forces.
The statement added the letter sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes that “The government will be pleased to host a commission from the Commissioner”.
Following information included in the statement:
“We note the response of a Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson to the High Commissioner’s press release on Tuesday about the alarming reports of human rights violations in recent months in south-east Turkey, and in particular the statement that the Government of Turkey would be pleased to welcome a visit by the High Commissioner to the region.
“The High Commissioner, as a consequence, on Wednesday sent a letter renewing our request to the Turkish Government’s for its formal agreement to allow a UN Human Rights Office team to have access to the country, in order to independently examine allegations of violations of international law, including conflicting and competing claims.
“The High Commissioner emphasized that full and unhindered access for the UN human rights team to the affected population and locations, authorities, documentation and other relevant materials in south-east Turkey is essential for any credible fact-finding exercise. We are ready to send a team at the earliest opportunity and, in light of the statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, look forward to swift official confirmation that this mission will indeed be welcomed and fully supported by the Turkish authorities”.
It has demanded that basements in Cizre be examined
Zeid Raad al-Hussein had said that “alarming reports as to unarmed civilians be shot by snipers in military vehicles during the security operations in Turkey’s southeast”.
The UN has also demanded that the reports as to over 100 people stuck in the basement being burned to death by security forces be investigated. (AS/TK)
