Author: EutccAdmin

Dear Sir or Madam,

Please find below our current newsletter.

Kind regards 

Prof. Kariane Westrheim 

Chairperson 

Our statement: PKK resolutions: strengthening democratic transformation together 

Peace and a democratic society will have positive regional and global implications that are more necessary than ever. Rapid, strong and clear action is therefore required from all sides, especially European institutions. 

http://eutcc.net/?p=2027

Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s congress declaration

We call on international powers to acknowledge their responsibilities in the century-long genocide policies against our people, not to obstruct a democratic solution, and to contribute constructively to the process.

Interview with our chair: PKK’s dissolution “critical opening – not a conclusion”

Prof. Kariane Westrheim says the PKK’s decision to dissolve itself and end its armed struggle should be considered a historic step towards a peaceful solution to the Kurdish question in Turkey, a “critical opening – not a conclusion”.

Latest MEP report: Turkey’s accession to the EU must remain frozen.

Turkey’s geopolitical and strategic importance cannot make up for the government’s democratic backsliding, and EU membership criteria are not up for negotiation, MEPs say.

Open letter to President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa

Statement by 58 human rights organizations, media freedom groups, journalists’ organisations & representatives of the international legal community regarding the assault on the right to political participation, the rule of law and human rights in Turkey

—
EU Turkey Civic Commission
www.eutcc.net
Twitter: @EUTCC1
Facebook: Eu Turkey Civic Commission
Instagram: @eutcc1

Dear Sir or Madam,

Please find below our current newsletter. 

Kind regards 

Prof. Kariane Westrheim 

Chairperson 

IHD 2024 report: At least 7 thousand 431 rights violations in Kurdish areas 

According to the reports of IHD Diyarbakır Branch, 7 thousand 431 rights violations took place in Kurdistan in 2024 and 117 civilians’ right to life was violated. 

http://www.mezopotamyaajansi43.com/en/ALL-NEWS/content/view/274178

Resolution by PACE on the arrest of the Mayor of Istanbul and the state of democracy and human rights in Turkey

Reiterating its previous resolutions on Türkiye, including Resolution 2459 (2022) and Resolution 2518 (2023), the Assembly recalls that Turkey has committed itself to upholding and promoting democratic values, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms. It therefore demands that the authorities implement immediately all these resolutions as well as the recommendations contained in the Venice Commission’s opinions concerning Turkey. 

Statement by UN experts on PKK’s unilateral ceasefire 

UN experts welcomed the unilateral ceasefire declared by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) on 1 March 2025, after more than 40 years of conflict with Turkey.

Restrictions on the use of Kurdish 

A new report by Kurdish Monitoring reveals 24 separate incidents of restrictions on the use of Kurdish in public spaces, media, cultural and artistic fields, and prisons during the first quarter of 2025.

—
EU Turkey Civic Commission
www.eutcc.net
Twitter: @EUTCC1
Facebook: Eu Turkey Civic Commission
Instagram: @eutcc1

Dear Sir or Madam,

Please find below our current newsletter.

Kind regards

Prof. Kariane Westrheim
EUTCC Chairperson

19th EUTCC Conference – Final Resolution 

The Annual International Conference on the EU, Turkey, the Middle East and the Kurds was hosted by the EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC) in cooperation with the Left Group, the Greens-European Free Alliance (GREENS/EFA) and the Groups of the Free Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) was successfully held on 26th and 27th of March 2025 in the European Parliament in Brussels. 

http://eutcc.net/?p=1997

Swedish journalist Joakim Medin has been arrested in Turkey after travelling to Istanbul to report on protests

He is facing charges of insulting the president and membership in a terrorist organisation. Turkish authorities have linked his case to a protest held in Stockholm in January 2023, during which a mock-up of Turkish President Erdoğan was displayed. 

Statement by Reporters Without Borders on the treatment of journalists covering the protests emerged after the arrest of the İstanbul mayor

We condemn in the strongest terms the violent crackdown on media professionals covering the protests in Turkey.

Newroz was celebrated in Diyarbakır with nearly a million people in attendance

Meanwhile, CHP Leader Özgür Özel, PUK Leader Bafel Talabani, KDP Leader Masoud Barzani, and Kurdistan Regional Government President Nechirvan Barzani also sent messages for Newroz.

Report on the targeting of civilians in NES by Turkey and the SNA

The information RIC has gathered presents a clear picture of intentional targeting of civilians and civil life by Turkey and the SNA, in North-East Syria in the period after the fall of Assad. 

EU Turkey Civic Commission

www.eutcc.net

Twitter: @EUTCC1

Facebook: Eu Turkey Civic Commission

The Annual International Conference on the EU, Turkey, the Middle East and the Kurds was hosted by the EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC) in cooperation with the Left Group, the Greens-European Free Alliance (GREENS/EFA) and the Groups of the Free Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D). The conference was successfully held on 26^th and 27^th of March 2025 in the European Parliament in Brussels.

At a time when wars and political uncertainty are increasing in the world and the Middle East is being reshaped, important steps are being taken towards a political solution to the Kurdish question in Turkey. Kurdish political leader Abdullah Öcalan’s historic call, on 27 February 2025, for peace and a democratic society offers a unique moment to untie the Gordian knot not only for Turkey but for the entire region. The Kurdistan Workers’ Party responded promptly with a unilateral ceasefire. The task now is to create the appropriate legal and political foundations to bring this process to a sustainable peace. The involvement of Öcalan in the peace process is crucial for its success. After more than 25 years in prison, his release would not only uphold his fundamental rights but also signal a commitment to addressing the needs and rights of the Kurdish community.

Therefore, we demand:

• An end to Turkey’s attacks on Northern Syria and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq as violation of international law
• An end to the appointment of trustees by the Turkish Ministry of the Interior
• The immediate introduction of political and legal measures to progress the initiated process
• Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan – indispensable for him to be able to fulfil his role in this process adequately
•  

A peaceful and democratic regional process, which will have far-reaching global implications, is only possible with broad support.  We therefore call on the European Union and its institutions as well as the Council of Europe, to:

• Recognise the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria as an indispensable democratic determinant of a united plural Syria and to strengthen it accordingly
• Enforce the immediate implementation of the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Abdullah Öcalan
• Use all mechanisms to strengthen the process for a political solution to the Kurdish question and democratisation of Turkey and the Middle East
• Remove the Kurdistan Workers’ Party from the terror list to send positive signals in favour of the ongoing process

EU Turkey Civic Commission
www.eutcc.net
Twitter: @EUTCC1
Facebook: Eu Turkey Civic Commission
Instagram: @eutcc1