The Şırnak Bar Association expects the Silopi Prosecution to start excavations in the area of Hezil Stream in south-eastern Turkey as soon as possible. Former JİTEM member Beğler stated that about 200 bodies are buried in a region pretended to be mined.

Postager.com web author İsmail Yıldız was released after he gave his statement in the context of a trial launched in Adana regarding the KCK organization. Yıldız was detained in an Istanbul prison for two days.

TEKEL workers decided to carry on with their protest actions for the protection of personal employers rights started 25 days ago. The ballot was decided in favour of the resistance by the vast majority of workers. The struggle for the workers' rights will be extended both in time and dimension.

Tensions in the Manisa district of Selendi turned into a severe attack against Romani people on 6 January. Houses, towns and cars were destroyed in the racist attack. The displaced Romani were relocated in prefabricated houses in the nearby town of Salihli.

Turkish director Sinan Çetin addressed the Prime Minister and other politicians at the openening of an exhibition: "People with Turkish Ids are dying. You have the power, solve it, sir..."

An internet signature campaign has been launched for the release of detained BDP members and human rights defenders. The Human Rights Association Diyarbakır called the international community to act on behalf of association chairman Erbey.

Fehmi Kılıç, owner and editor-in-chief of Devrimci Hareket magazine, was convicted of spreading propaganda for two political organizations based on mentioning the organizations' names in two articles. Kılıç has to pay € 7,570 in compensation.

12,000 TEKEL workers are going to vote for the continuation or the end of their resistance taken up 23 days ago in Ankara. Amaç from the Tek Gıda-İş union claims, "Erdoğan said 'They are on the streets because of provocations'. We want to highlight the workers' right to self-determination".

The government launches a shelter program for women exposed to violence in cooperation with Turkish women and children institutes and financially support by the EU. Karakuş from the Socialist Feminist Collective admonished that efforts have to be further extended beyond single projects.

The Contemporary Lawyers Association filed complaints about Prime Minister Erdoğan, Interior Minister Atalay, two governors and provincial chiefs of police. The Association criticizes a lack of police action against recent lynch attempts in three Turkish cities.

Postager.com internet author Yıldız was taken to a prison in Istanbul under allegations of refusing testimony in a case launched after an operation against the Kurdistan Communities Confederation. If Yıldız is not released after giving his statement, he will be taken to Adana.

REMDH and FEMED rights organizations demanded the release of Human Rights Association executive Kalaycı and deputy chair Erbey who was arrested in an operation against the Kurdistan Democratic Confederation.

Lawyer Elçi said that JİTEM can be considered as an "armed and dangerous criminal organization aiming to throw over the constitutional order" after the JITEM case has been transferred to a "special authority high criminal court". A hearing can be scheduled as soon as the court accepts the file.

Turkish artist Müjde Ar is on trial on the grounds of allegedly addressing Eskişehir National Education Director İbrahim Ceylan by saying "Which hinterland do these managers come from?" The case is postponed to 4 March.

The decision of the closure of Democratic Society Party taken by the Constitutional Court in December has been published in the Official Gazette and thus been legally enforced. Hereupon, the political ban for 37 DTP members comes into effect and the MP status of the co-chairs officially ends.

Tehran experienced severe clashes between police forces and the public during the Shia festival of Ashura on 27 December. Eye-witness Siyavash Shahabi reports about the riots in the Iranian capital.

Three people were arrested related to the murder of journalist Cihan Hayırsevener from Bandırma on the southern coast of the Sea of Marmara. Defendant Serkan Erakkuş was taken in detention, two other defendants were released and will be tried un-detained.

The Court of Appeals overruled the decision regarding a compensation claim to be paid by NTV for publishing a phone talk between Dink murder case defendant Tuncel and police officer Zenit. The reversal of the previous decree stresses the right to inform and the freedom of the press.

According to the Turkish Confederation of Labour Unions, 2009 was once more characterized by labour rights violations, extortion of rights and police interventions against workers seeking their rights. The confederation announced continuous and extended protest actions for 2010.

The Human Rights Foundation of Turkey was established on 30 December 1990. In the last 19 years, the organization provided help and support services to more than 12,000 torture victims. Several times, the foundation was awarded for its work, including dozens of acknowledged books and reports.