Kurdish man died under torture in Syria, two others arrested.
According to Syrian Committee for Human Rights – MAD, Mohammed Musto Rashid from Mabatli, Afrin, died as a result of torture in Aleppo Central prison. He had been in detention for nearly four months, and had been subjected to severe torture, and was taken to hospital in Allepo where he stayed for four days. He was then sent back to prison and his death was announced on 19 January 2010. The reason for his arrest and detention is not known, nor if this was in connection with any political activity.
Zahr al-Din Khorshid Ibish and his brother Rashid, from the town of Afrin, were arrested on 1 January 2010 after a raid on their house by security forces. Zahr al-Din Khorshid Ibish had been detained in Turkey for eight years for allegedly belonging to the PKK. He was handed to the Syrian authorities in 2004, and was then imprisoned for three months. He then moved to live in Lebanon with his brother, where he worked for three years. On return to Syria they were arrested again, but the reasons for the arrest are unknown. Read more
Free Kurdish Mayors, Politicians, DTP and BDP Members From Turkish Prisons – Petition
On December 24th, more than 80 people related to the BDP (Peace and Democracy Party), as well as human rights defenders and members of NGO’s were arrested across Turkey. On December 28th, another 24 people were arrested in Van, and Batman, cities of the pre-dominantly Kurdish south-east of Turkey.
The BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) is the succession party to the recently closed Democratic Society Party (DTP). The prosecutor’s office accuses the detained of membership in the KCK (Koma Civaken Kurdistan), the umbrella organization that includes the militant Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Read more
Kurdish children and Courts in Turkey
1. New hope arises for ‘stone throwing children’ in Turkey
Minors being tried at the C
ourt for Serious of Crimes for terrorism-related offenses continue to attract attention due to receiving sentences longer than their actual ages. Now, the Justice Ministry is planning to bring a new draft law to Parliament in an effort to solve the problem after discussion on a previous bill was overshadowed by worries it would benefit Abdullah Öcalan
New hope has emerged for children detained on terrorism charges for throwing stones at security forces as Turkey’s ruling party prepares to redraft a bill to overhaul the relevant anti-terror law. Read more
Letter from Farzad Kamangar sent to his mother
Below is a letter from Farzad Kamangar, A Kurdish teacher who was sentenced to death for alleged ties to the PKK. In his trial, which lasted seven minutes, neither Kamangar or his lawyer were allowed to speak.
Below is a letter Kamangar sent to his mother recently from Evin prison, where he is held in the political prisoner’s ward 209.
It’s a Strange Time, My Flower
Do not search for me mother
Do not utter my name in front of this prison
Do not search for me here
A star has fallen on your mane
Do not make it tired and tearful Read more
URGENT: seeking forced returnees who were on the UK flight to Baghdad in October 2009
We are urgently trying to trace other returnees who were on the flight who can make witness statements in the lead case about what happened on the flight and on arrival. (They may of course also have claims for unlawful detention/ assault themselves, whether or not they were released after the flight, which may depend on the findings in the lead case.)
Syria: Kurds – Questions in the House of Lords
Asked by Lord Hylton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of any discrimination experienced by the Kurdish minority in Syria, and whether they possess normal citizenship and language rights. [HL1523]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made or will make to the government of Syria about the recent arrests of (a) Hassan Ibrahim Saleh, (b) Mohamed Mustapha, (c) Maroof Mullah Ahmed, and (d) Anwar Nasso, who have called for autonomy for the Kurdish region. [HL1524]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether Kurdish politicians arrested in Syria since December 2002 have been brought before military or security courts, and whether they have had legal representation. [HL1525] Read more
Three Kurds arrested in Syria
Syrian authorities from the Political Security Branch in Rakka arrested three citizens on 17 January 2010:
- Sheikh Ahmed Hamou
- Mohammed Sheikh Mohammed
- Ez al-Din Sheikhi Mustafa
These three citizens are still in the custody of the Branch, but their families have no information about the reason for their arrest, or the charges against them. One of the detainees, Sheikh Ahmed Hamou has chronic inflammation of the chest, and it is understood that his health has deteriorated because of the poor conditions of detention.
Media Institute of Western Kurdistan Federation
2 February 2010
Farzad Kamangar Kurdish Teacher on Death Row Asks for New Trial
In a letter addressed to the Head of the judiciary, Farzad Kamangar, Kurdish teacher & human rights activist on death row asks for a new trail.
RAHANA Prisoners’ Rights Unit – Even his interrogators know Kamangar is an innocent man. They have even admitted to it in front of his lawyer. Still, 3 years after he was arrested, Farzad Kamagar sits in a cell in Tehran’s Evin Prison, awaiting his execution. No date has been set for his execution yet, but the events of the last 7 months and the recent executions of 2 other Kurdish political prisoners, puts him and 20 other Kurdish activists in serious danger of being executed at any moment. In a letter written from Evin and addressed to the head of the judiciary, Kamangar has described the details of his long investigation and his 7 minute trial, arguing that the entire process resulting in his guilty verdict has been unlawful. He has asked, Sadegh Larijani to use his power as the head of the judiciary and order a new trial. Read more
Kurdish detainees – trial adjourned to 2 March 2010
Kurdish organization for the defence of human rights and public freedoms in Syria – DAD reports that the individual military judge in Qamishli held a new trial in relation to case no. 176 of 2010, on 4 February 2010 in relation to the following detainees:
• Ahmed Abdullah Taj
• Yassin Sheikhmous Mohammed
• Mohammad Sharif Mohammad
• Fuad Ahmed Mourad
• Mohamed Mustafa
This hearing was for the defence to put its case, and after a written statement was read and filed, the judge adjourned the case to 2 March 2010 so that the papers could be verified and studied. These people have been charged with the offence of belonging to a secret and illegal organisation. Read more
Jamal Sadoun is released
According to Kurdish Organization for the Defence of Human Rights and Public Freedoms in Syria – DAD, the Individual Military Judge in Qamishli decided to release the Kurdish musician Jamal Sadoun on 4 February 2010.
Previous reports:
http://supportkurds.org/news/jamal-sadoun-remains-in-detention-in-syria-others-are-released/
http://supportkurds.org/news/reports/yasa-report-october-2009/
http://supportkurds.org/news/trials-process-for-kurdish-activists-in-syria/
http://www.freemuse.org/sw36249.asp
