Police raid home of Human Rights Association head Eren Keskin's mother at midnight
Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish
Police raided the home of Human Rights Association (İHD) Chair Eren Keskin's mother last night (December 3).
The raid was conducted because of an investigation into Keskin over a speech she made in the southeastern Dersim province two and a half years ago, Keskin told bianet.
As she wasn't at home, police called Keskin by phone and summoned her to give a statement, she said and added that she will depose on Tuesday.
Her mother's home is registered as her residential address, so the police raided not her but her mother's home, Keskin explained.
"My mother wasn't at home, but my sister was. Police officers came an hour ago because I had to testify," she said, adding that the investigation against her was for "terror propaganda."
"But what does it mean to come to my home at this hour? A statement at this hour? I would go to testify had they summoned me verbally. Moreover, my lawyer friends got power of attorney," said the lawyer. "Call me and I'll come. They called me after raiding the home."
About Eren KeskinLawyer and rights defender. Keskin is currently the co-chair of the Human Rights Association (İHD). She has been an advocate of fundamental rights and freedoms for years, especially of minority rights, gender equality and rights violations. There are still several ongoing lawsuits against her. Keskin also served as the editor-in-chief of Özgür Gündem newspaper from 2013 to 2016. She stood trial in 143 separate cases, including the cases concerning the newspaper, which was closed by a statutory decree in 2016. The charges she has faced include "degrading the Turkish nation," "insulting the president" and charges related to "terrorism." Eren Keskin has been granted several awards: Aachen Peace Prize (2004), Theodor Haecker Prize for Political Courage and Sincerity (2005), symbol figure for struggle against impunity on the International Freedom of Expression Network (IFEX) International Day to End Impunity (2013). |
(HA/VK)