English woman wants to stop ethnic-cleansing of Syrian Kurds

By Wladimir van Wilgenburg

30-11-2009
London – Sheila Mosley was born in Zimbabwe, but her parents are from Yorkshire in the UK. Together with the Syrian Kurd Khalaf Dahowd, she has chosen to promote the situation of Kurds from Syria as co-chair of the International Support Kurds in Syria Association.

Where are you from? What’s your professional background.

I was born in Zimbabwe,  my parents are English – from Yorkshire in UK.  We came back here when I was 8 years old,  and then when we were going back, we were refused admission to what was then Rhodesia because of my father’s stance for the rights of Africans, and we have lived here in UK since that time. Read more

Bilingual road signs in Turkey’s Kurdish villages 26.11.2009

DIYARBAKIR, Kurdish Southeastern region of Turkey, — The first bilingual road signs in Turkish and Kurdish have been erected in Turkey’s southeast as part of efforts by Ankara to win over its restive minority, an AFP reporter observed Thursday.

The direction signs feature the names in both languages of villages around Diyarbakir, the largest city of the Kurdish-majority region which has been the scene of a bloody insurgency since 1984.

The initiative was spearheaded by the Diyarbakir municipality, which is held by the Democratic Society Party, Turkey’s main Kurdish political movement.

Bilingual signs have been placed for 82 villages, but signs for Diyarbakir city remained only in Turkish, a municipality official told AFP. Read more

Iranian Kurdish author to serve 15 months in prison 28 November 2009

KERMANSHAH,— Iranian Kurdish writer, Abbas Jalilian has been sent to Kermanshah prison to serve out a 15 month imprisonment term. He is accused by Iranian authorities of “activities against national security through identifying and attracting spies and introducing them to foreign countries.”

The 15-month prison term was approved by the appeals court last week.

Kaveh Kermanshahi, a human rights activist in Kurdistan, informed Zamaneh that Abbas Jalilian did not have an attorney in the preliminary hearing,www.ekurd.netand in every step of the legal proceedings, he denied the charges demanding to be shown evidence for the accusations. The appeals court reportedly approved the verdict of the preliminary hearing in its very first meeting.

Abbas Jalilian Iranian-Kurdish author to serve 15 months in prison Read more

What can you do to help Zeynab? Join with DI to help 12 Kurds condemned to death in Iran

Iran: DI Urgent Action: Halt the Execution of 12 Kurdish Political Activists
Written by DI Monitoring & Investigation Committee
Sunday, 15 November 2009

NO To Death Penalty
NO To Death Penalty
After the execution of the political activist Ehsan Fatahiyan on November 11, 2009, 12 political activists are facing the same fate. Almost all of them have been accused of being a mohareb (“enemy of God”) and/or “endangering state security” and sentenced to death after unfair trials.

DI affirms the necessity for an immediate intervention by the United Nations and the international community in order to halt these scheduled executions.

Names:  Zeynab Jalaliyan (female),  Shirkoh Moarefi (male), Habibollah Latifi [1] (male), Farhad Chalesh (male), Ramezan Ahmad (male), Rostam Arkiya (male), Fasih Yasamini (male), Rashid Akhkandi (male), Hossein Khaziri (male), Farzad Kamangar [2] (male), Ali Heydariyan (male) and Farhad Vakili (male)

The case: At least 12 political activists are feared to be at imminent risk of execution in Sanandaj prison. Almost all of them have reportedly been tortured and sentenced to death after unfair trials. Read more

Two Kurdish men in their 70s and a 10 year old child arrested in Syria for celebrating Eid al-Adha

Kurdish Committee for Human Rights (monitor /al-Rased) and other sources report that three people have been arrested in Deyrik al-Malikiya town on the night of Eid al-Adha:

• Hassan Abdul-Karim
• Ramadan Haji Hassan both in their 70’s,
• and the child, Juan Abdul Salam aged 10

These people live in the village Jallow in the Deyrik region, and were arrested by criminal security forces and were sent immediately to Political Security in Hassaka city.

They were arrested against the background of children enjoying traditional celebrations of Eid al-Adha including lighting fires and singing special songs for this festival. Read more

Germany Returns Kurds to Uncertain Fate

Shortly after his return in September, Kanjo was summoned by the security services and since then his whereabouts are unknown, Syrian and international human rights organisations say. Read more

Save Zeynab Jalalian from Execution – Petition

Dear Human right organisations

My name is Ms Zeinab Jalalian

I am 27 years old Kurdish female political prisoner, in Iran prison. My death sentenced was confirmed by Iranian Supreme Court. I am currently ill because of  torture and I don’t have any lawyer to defend me. I want to tell you that trial  took only few minute. Court told me: “You are a God’s enemies. Have to be hanged very soon” That was all my court process. I asked judge to give me permission to say good bye, to my mother and family before execution, he told me “shut up” and rejected.

Zeinab Jalalian

26/11/2009

Target: Mobilizing U.N., Human Rights advocates and Organizations to stop execution of Zeynab Jalalian

Sign the petition

Syria: Prisoners on Hunger Strike in Adra Prison – DI public statement

Defend International (DI) is alarmed by reports that several Kurdish political prisoners have started a hunger strike to protest prison conditions, unfair trial practices and racial discrimination.

DI has contacted the International Committee of the Red Cross, High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, seeking their urgent intervention in this matter. Read more

A Candle for Ehsan

HRW report: Group Denial – Repression of Kurdish Political and Cultural Rights in Syria

The international community can play a constructive role in promoting the rights of Kurds in Syria. So far, Syria’s crackdown on Kurdish activists has generally gone unnoticed internationally. This lack of interest by international policymakers has many causes, including the remoteness of the areas inhabited by the Syrian Kurds, restrictions imposed by the Syrian authorities, and the international community’s focus on Syria’s role in regional politics. However, ignoring the treatment of Kurds in Syria will not make the problem go away. The international community, in particular the United States and the European Union, which are both currently engaged in substantive talks with the Syrian government, should ensure that human rights concerns, including the treatment of Kurds, are part of their discussions with Syria. 26 November 2009

Read more

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