Newsletter

Dear Sir or Madam,

Please find below our current newsletter.

Kind regards

Kariane Westrheim
Chairperson

Our statement: Anti-Kurdish Policy from Turkey to Europe
We call on the European Union member states not to support Turkey’s anti-Kurdish policy. Freedom of the press & international law are universal values that must be protected and defended.

eutcc.net/?p=1692

Council of Europe Congress statement on election observation mission to Turkey:
“However, we regretted that, for the first time in over 120 Congress missions, one delegation member was not granted accreditation…. In line with the Council of Europe principles of democracy, rule of law and human rights, more needs to be done to ensure a political and media environment where there is genuine freedom of expression and a reasonable and well-implemented framework overseen by an independent judiciary.”

Statement by DEM Party: We urge the AKP Government to respect the will of the people of Van!
We call upon all supporters of democratic principles to condemn this course of action. Respecting the will of the people is fundamental to the essence of democracy.

Our statement: Turkey has voted against AKP & Erdoğan
A democratic transformation process can be initiated only if the causality between the democratisation of the country / region & a political solution to the Kurdish question is seen.

eutcc.net/?p=1675

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

Our statement: Upcoming elections in Turkey: Neither free nor fair

In addition to identifying violations of the principle of free and fair elections in accordance with the Protocol 1, Article 3 of the Human Rights Act, it is important to draw consequences from violations. European institutions, especially the Council of Europe, need to be more proactive here.

http://eutcc.net/?p=1665

Memorandum by the Council of Europe commissioner for human rights Dunja Mijatovic

Turkey reverse a critically hostile environment for freedom of expression and for journalists, human rights defenders and civil society. 

Report by UN Syria Commission of Inquiry

Turkish aerial attacks on power plants deprived nearly one million people of water & electricity for weeks, in violation of international humanitarian law. Civilians were also killed. Such attacks may amount to war crimes.

Report by the US Department of Defense

A recent report issued by the US Department of Defense indicates that the terrorist ISIS group persists in utilizing Turkey for the transfer of funds and to facilitate support for its regional and global activities.

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

Dear Sir or Madam,

Please find below our February newsletter. 

Kind regards

Prof. Kariane Westrheim 

EUTCC Chairperson 

Our statement on CPT’s Visit to Turkey 

We call upon the Council of Europe to use all possible mechanisms to end this

lawlessness. 

http://eutcc.net/?p=1651

CPT’s Visit to Turkey 

The main objective of the visit was to examine the treatment of persons held in high-security prisons. A further focus of the visit was the situation of LGBTI and women prisoners. On the occasion of the visit, the delegation also raised with the relevant authorities certain issues related to the situation of the prisoners currently held at Imralı F-type High-Security Prison, in particular as regards their contact with the outside world. 

Report by Human Rights Watch on Abuses and Impunity in Turkish-Occupied Northern Syria 

“To the UN member States: Under the principle of universal jurisdiction and in accordance with national laws, investigate and prosecute those credibly implicated in serious crimes under international law committed in Turkish-occupied northern Syria.” 

Human Rights Watch’s Middle East Division on Turkey’s Strikes against Northern Syria 

Turkey’s Strikes Wreak Havoc on Northeast Syria – Critical Infrastructure Damaged, Millions Without Access to Essential Services

DFG February Report 

Announcing its February report, Dicle Fırat Journalists Association pointed out that 42 journalists are still imprisoned and called for “solidarity” for journalists.  

http://mezopotamyaajansi35.com/en/ALL-NEWS/content/view/234788

Kurdish Courses in Turkey 

While thousands of students applied for Kurdish elective courses, only 132 teachers were appointed in 12 years in

http://mezopotamyaajansi35.com/en/ALL-NEWS/content/view/233552 —

EU Turkey Civic Commission

www.eutcc.net

Twitter: @EUTCC1

Facebook: Eu Turkey Civic Commission

Dear Sir or Madam,

Please find below our December 2023 newsletter. 

Kind regards 

Prof. Kariane Westrheim 

Chairperson 

…

Turkey leads in pending applications at ECHR with 23,400 cases

Turkey had the highest number of pending applications with 23,397 cases out of a total of 68,450 cases at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) at the end of 2023.

Bianet Male Violence Monitoring Annual Report 2023

Men killed at least 333 women and 28 children

Turkey conducted 198 drone strikes on Northern and Eastern Syria in 2023 These strikes killed 105 people and injured 123.

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

Dear Sir or Madam,

Please find below our December 2023 newsletter. 

Kind regards 

Prof. Kariane Westrheim 

Chairperson 

…

Statement: Stop Turkey’s War on Northern Syria 

There is an urgent need for condemnation of Turkey, appropriate sanctions and a swift initiative for dialogue with the aim of a political solution to the Kurdish question and lasting peace in the Middle East. 

http://eutcc.net/?p=1603

HDP former Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş’s defence speech in the Kobane Case 

“Instead of sending Turkish youth to war at -20 degrees Celsius, send a delegation to İmralı. Öcalan is the party to the negotiation. He is the legitimate interlocutor representing the political demands of the Kurds, the most effective actor.”

Final resolution of the 18th EUTCC Conference 

The EUTCC Conference welcomes the decision of the European Parliament to award the Sakharov Peace Prize to the Kurdish woman Jina Amini as a symbol of the maxim Jin, Jiyan, Azadi post hum and declares its solidarity with the women’s resistance. 

http://eutcc.net/?p=1575

Freedom of expression in Turkey 

Over 1,640 people were put on trial in 233 cases regarding the freedom of expression monitored by Media and Law Studies Association observers in Turkey. In 32 cases, 116 defendants were sentenced to a total of more than 217 years of imprisonment.

Repressions against DEM Party

DEM Party Legal and Human Rights Commission announced that Turkish authorities detained 2,906 people affiliated with the party, including children and many party executives, and arrested 319 of them in the first 11 months of 2023.