The Human Rights Association (İHD) reported over 27,000 detentions in Turkish Kurdish cities from 2015 to 2024 amid severe repression of protests. The report highlights the banning of hundreds of protests, excessive use of force by security forces, and a concerning rise in injuries and fatalities. İHD leaders stress the need for dialogue to resolve the Kurdish issue peacefully and for the government to comply with international human rights standards.
The Human Rights Association (İHD) has unveiled a staggering report detailing over 27,000 detentions in Kurdish cities across Turkey from 2015 to 2024 during a period characterized by harsh crackdowns on assembly and expression. The study highlights the suppression of dissent, with 570 protests banned and 361 demonstrations disrupted, illustrating the severity of government repression. Ercan Yılmaz, the İHD Diyarbakır Branch President, drew attention to the worrying trends in human rights violations. He emphasized the urgent need for dialogue to address the Kurdish issue, criticizing authorities for implementing arbitrary protest bans in cities frequently. The report painted a picture of increased detentions, home raids, and excessive police force, with a particularly brutal year in 2024 alone witnessing 60 protest bans and 36 police interventions causing multiple injuries. The report chronicles the grim statistics revealing that from 2015 to 2024, 27,984 individuals faced detention, with at least 436 civilians injured amid protests and 25 fatalities attributed largely to police violence. Yılmaz condemned the frightening increase in state repression against peaceful protests and reiterated calls for a peaceful resolution to the Kurdish situation, highlighting the dire implications for regional human rights. Akın Birdal, İHD’s Honorary President, echoed the urgent need for a peaceful approach in solving the Kurdish dilemma, lamenting the lost opportunities for a democratic resolution in Turkey. He warned that without collaborative action and dialogue, discussions of democracy and human rights in the country remain hollow and unattainable. The report urges the Turkish government to lift arbitrary restrictions on peaceful assembly, ceasing the criminalization of protest participants. It calls for independent investigations into the reported human rights abuses and compliance with international human rights standards, framing a potential path towards improvement.
The context of this report is rooted in the ongoing tensions surrounding Kurdish rights in Turkey, particularly in the context of government actions perceived as oppressive. Over the past nine years, there has been a significant crackdown on civil liberties, which has led to widespread unrest and a push for peaceful negotiations. This report sheds light on the consequences of such repression and advocates for a peaceful resolution to the issues at hand, emphasizing human rights.
This comprehensive report by the Human Rights Association reveals a troubling narrative of systemic repression and human rights violations in Kurdish cities across Turkey. With thousands detained and numerous protests suppressed, the urgent call for dialogue and peaceful resolution remains paramount. The findings underscore the dire need for the Turkish government to adhere to democratic principles and human rights standards, seeking to pave a way for reconciliation and improved civil liberties.
Original Source: medyanews.net
