Case to Close Down Immigration Foundation

A report released by the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) had said that up to 1 million Kurds were displaced from Turkey's southeast during 15-years of fighting between Kurdish guerrillas and the Turkish military. This was done as part of a campaign to deny local support to autonomy-seeking Kurdish rebels.

The Foundation of Immigration and Humanitarian Aid (GIYAV) was established in 1999 to provide aid and support villagers who had to migrate from their homes. The founders and GIYAV board of directors are now facing charges at the State Security Court (DGM) in the province of Adana, for "helping an outlawed organization."

The first hearing of the case brought against the 21 founding members and the GIYAV board of directors, will be held on December 18, 2002 at 10:00 a.m. at the Adana DGM.

Another case was brought against GIYAV at a Mersin court, with the demands that the foundation be closed down. The hearing of this case will be held on December 23, 2002.

Returning to villages, rebuilding villages

The aim of GIYAV was to prepare scientific reports and publications besides developing projects about immigration. The foundation has ongoing projects on, "children who work on the streets," a "providing a job" project for the women who had to migrate, and a project on "returning to villages and rebuilding villages." (BB/EA/NM)