Kurdish question

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"Ground Operations Might Start any Time"

"Ground Operations Might Start any Time"

Minister of the Interior Şahin declared that a date for cross-border ground operations was not going to be fixed. "Operations can be carried out any time and an evaluation of the topic is still being continued", Şahin announced.

15 September 2011

Voice Records of Talks between Government and PKK?

KURDISH QUESTION

Voice Records of Talks between Government and PKK?

Voice records emerged in the internet that allegedly feature talks between members of the National Intelligence Agency and of the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party held during the negotiation period.

14 September 2011

4 Civilians Killed, 14 People still Kept Hostage

4 Civilians Killed, 14 People still Kept Hostage

Four civilians, one soldier and one police officer were killed in an armed conflict in Şemdinli on 11 September. A total of 14 people who were abducted since July are still being kept hostage by the Kurdistan Workers' Party.

13 September 2011

Alleged Execution after Surrender

Alleged Execution after Surrender

Former Van Gendarmerie Regiment Commander İyigün stands accused of having executed two PKK members and one civilian who had surrendered already.

8 September 2011

General Staff: Aerial Strike on 20 PKK Hideouts

General Staff: Aerial Strike on 20 PKK Hideouts

According to a statement by the General Staff, 20 hideouts of the PKK have been attacked. Meanwhile, soldiers were brought to the Turkish-Iraqi border. Protestors against the operations encountered police interventions and tear gas in Istanbul and Diyarbakır.

Protests at Iranian Border

Protests at Iranian Border

A three-day protest action at the Turkish-Iranian border against military operations in northern Iran was brought to a preliminary end on 2 August. Protests in the region are expected to increase.

3 August 2011 Ekin Karaca

Convicted for "Passing on Greetings"

Convicted for "Passing on Greetings"

Mehmet Bayraktar, lawyer of imprisoned PKK leader Öcalan, was sentenced to one year behind bars on the grounds of delivering Öcalan's greetings at a meeting. The decision was brought to the Court of Appeals.

Separate Trials for Kurdish and Non-Kurdish Defendants

ZEYTİNBURNU RIOTS

Separate Trials for Kurdish and Non-Kurdish Defendants

The people taken into custody in the course of riots in Zeytinburnu/Istanbul with a Kurdish background were taken to the Anti-Terror Branch, the others were sent to the Public Order Branch. The prosecution of both groups will be held at different courts.

29 July 2011 Işıl Cinmen

72 People in Police Custody in Istanbul

72 People in Police Custody in Istanbul

The Istanbul Police announced on its website that 43 people were taken into custody on 23 July because they "organized incidents" in Zeytinburnu/Istanbul. Another 29 people were taken into custody in the course of related operations.

Military Operations in South-Eastern Turkey Intensified

Military Operations in South-Eastern Turkey Intensified

Two non-commissioned officers and one specialist sergeant were killed in an armed conflict in the night from 23 to 24 July in Mardin in south-eastern Turkey. A large-scale military operation was launched in the region.

Prison Instead of School - Work Instead of Play

CHIDREN AND THE ANTI-TERROR LAW

Prison Instead of School - Work Instead of Play

A group of non-governmental organizations prepared a report on "The Socio-Economic Situation of Children Released from Prison" about children who were taken into police custody or imprisoned under the Anti-Terror Law between 2006 and 2010.

Tension Continues after Clashes in Silvan

Tension Continues after Clashes in Silvan

Attacks against Kurdish citizens and members of the Peace and Democracy Party are still continuing after 13 soldiers died in an armed conflict in Silvan one week ago. In Erzurum, 500 people assaulted 200 Kurdish workers. In Zeytinburnu, BDP members were attacked.

20-Year Prison Threat for a Warm Welcome

20-Year Prison Threat for a Warm Welcome

Artist Farqin is facing imprisonment of up to 20 years on charges of "membership of an illegal organization" and "propaganda". He is tried because he hosted the welcome ceremony for a group of people affiliated with the PKK who came from Iraq to Turkey in 2009.

2 Convictions at 2 Courts for 1 "Offence"

2 Convictions at 2 Courts for 1 "Offence"

One press release was reason for two convictions of pro-Kurdish politician Uzun. One court charged him with "propaganda for an illegal organization", the other court found Uzun guilty of both propaganda and "committing a crime on behalf of an illegal organization".

Dozens in Police Custody - 7 Arrests

KCK OPERATIONS

Dozens in Police Custody - 7 Arrests

A total of 24 people including journalist Pamuk, NGO members, politicians and children, were taken into custody in the scope of KCK operations in the pre-dominantly Kurdish cities of Van, Şırnak, Mardin, Muş, Bingöl, Ağrı and Diyarbakır, five people were arrested.

German Sociologist Found in Mass Grave in Van

German Sociologist Found in Mass Grave in Van

After the investigation of a mass grave in Çatak/Van, it was reported that the remains of German Sociologist Wolf were found among the approximately 40 bodies in the cave.

17 June 2011 Nilay Vardar

Prison Sentence for Dubious Facebook Account

Prison Sentence for Dubious Facebook Account

Newspaper distributor Karahan was sentenced to imprisonment of two years on charges of "propaganda for an illegal organization". The sentence was based on certain terms posted on a Facebook account registered in Karahan's name.

15 June 2011 Ayça Söylemez

20 Months to Jail for News on Kurdish Question

20 Months to Jail for News on Kurdish Question

Journalist Irmak Saadet was handed down prison sentences of a total of 20 months and monetary fines adding up to TL 18,140. The convictions were based on several articles and news items published in the Yeni Yorum magazine and the Ülkede Yorum newspaper.

30 May 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

Riots in South-Eastern Turkey after Military Operations

Riots in South-Eastern Turkey after Military Operations

Thousands of people in south-eastern Turkey demonstrated against military operations that left 12 PKK members and 5 soldiers dead. Shops in the region remained closed, schools were boycotted. Demonstrators clashed with the police.

"Mehmet's Book" still Up to Date on an Ever-Pressing Conflict

"Mehmet's Book" still Up to Date on an Ever-Pressing Conflict

Nadire Mater's book on eye-witness accounts of soldiers in Turkey's South-East was part of the Political Plays Festival in Istanbul. Mater was tried and acquitted when the book was first published in 1999. Twelve years later the topic of the book is still up to date.

5 May 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

12 People Arrested after KCK Operations

12 People Arrested after KCK Operations

17 people were taken into custody in the course of operations against the KCK in several provinces last week. Twelve of them were arrested. Lawyer Aktar said that he has only limited access to the file because the investigation was classified.

5 May 2011 Ekin Karaca

Homes of Kurdish Families in Izmir Burnt Down

Homes of Kurdish Families in Izmir Burnt Down

The homes of 14 Kurdish families in Çeşme (Izmir) were demolished and burnt down because the houses were allegedly located on agricultural land. The families reacted by breaking the windows of the municipality building.

28 April 2011 Nail Karayel

Kurdish Musician Tunç Tried for Saying "Guerrilla"

Kurdish Musician Tunç Tried for Saying "Guerrilla"

After more than a hundred cases were opened against Kurdish folk singer Tunç, he is now facing charges of "propaganda for an illegal organization" for using the term "guerrilla". Tunç sees this kind of trials as a means of intimidation. The case will start in May.

28 March 2011 Ekin Karaca

Sit-Down Strike of Kurdish People in Diyarbakır

Sit-Down Strike of Kurdish People in Diyarbakır

The Foreign Affairs Department of the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party issued a press release on their sit-down strike in Diyarbakır, a Kurdish-majority city in south-eastern Turkey.

Demirtaş: "General Elections Bear Historic Opportunity"

NEWROZ 2011

Demirtaş: "General Elections Bear Historic Opportunity"

Hundreds of thousands of people came together in Istanbul and Diyarbakır for this year's Newroz celebrations. The Kurdish politicians had clear messages for the government. They urged for a peaceful solution of the Kurdish question and for a democratic constitution.

21 March 2011 Nilay Vardar

Journalist Mavioğlu in the Dock again

Journalist Mavioğlu in the Dock again

Journalist Mavioğlu from the Radikal newspaper stand accused of "propaganda" on the grounds of an interview with PKK leader Karayılan. Mavioğlu is facing up to three years in prison. "Despite efforts to put even more people behind bars, we will continue to write and talk", he claimed.

14 March 2011 Emir Çelik

Sociologist Beşikçi and Lawyer Şimşek Convicted

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

Sociologist Beşikçi and Lawyer Şimşek Convicted

Sociologist Beşikçi was sentenced to 15 months in jail because of an article in the periodical of the Contemporary Lawyers Association. Lawyer and magazine executive Şimşek received a TL 16,660 monetary fine.

7 March 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

"For a World without War"

"For a World without War"

The Commission on Global Peace and Justice organized the "International Meeting for a World without War" in Istanbul last weekend, focusing on the the Kurdish question. Academics, politicians and relatives of the disappeared contributed to the discussion.

28 February 2011 Ekin Karaca

Policeman who Beat Juvenile Claimed Self-Protection

Policeman who Beat Juvenile Claimed Self-Protection

A police officer who beat and severely a juvenile with a rifle butt said to his defence that his "psychology was in bad condition". The trial was transferred to Isparta for security reasons. Lawyer Ermiş demanded a prosecution under torture allegations.

8 February 2011 Erhan Üstündağ

"General Amnesty Would be Important Starting Point"

NEW CONSTITUTION SYMPOSIUM

"General Amnesty Would be Important Starting Point"

The 'Initiative for a Constitution from All for All' organized a symposium on a new constitution in Istanbul. Politicians, journalists, members of NGOs and religious representatives gave their views on the essentials of a new constitution.

1 February 2011 Elvan Kısmet

"Granting Rights to Kurds will Strengthen Unity"

"CONFERENCE ON THE MEANING OF TURKISH-KURDISH BROTHERHOOD"

"Granting Rights to Kurds will Strengthen Unity"

At the "Conference on the Meaning of Turkish-Kurdish Brotherhood", academic Çoşkun emphasized that granting rights to Kurds would strengthen unity rather than weakening it. MHP Deputy Karakaş called for the development of neglected Kurdish-majority regions.

17 January 2011 Elif Gençkal

"Bilingual Life" Project Fuels Interest in Kurdish Language

KURDISH QUESTION

"Bilingual Life" Project Fuels Interest in Kurdish Language

Besim Baykal, President of the Kurdish KURDİ-DER association, sees education in the mother tongue as a key to a solution of the Kurdish question. In the course of the recent discussion on the "bilingual life" project, applications for language courses rocketed.

4 January 2011 Berivan Tapan