Machine-guns against demonstrators in Syria

Mustafa Ismail still detained

According to Syrian Committee for Human Rights –MAD, On 22 March 2010, the lawyer Mustafa Ismail was referred to the military judge in Aleppo.  He was questioned by the General Military Attourney in Aleppo on 23 March, and  was transferred to the central prison in Aleppo. He was accused of undermining the authority of the state and broadcasting false news. He has been actively working in the field of law and human rights, and had been arrested on 12 December 2009.

Previous reports:

http://supportkurds.org/news/amnesty-international-syria-kurdish-lawyer-detained-risks-torture

http://supportkurds.org/news/trial-of-kurdish-youths-adjourned-to-29-december-2009

http://supportkurds.org/news/syria-di-member-mr-mustafa-ismail-arrested

An update of releases and arrests of Kurds in Syria – March 2010

According to DAD, on 11 March 2010, the Syrian Court of Causation rejected the appeal of the members of the leading committee of the Kurdish Azadi Party:

• Mustafa Jum’ah
• Mohammad Sa’id ‘Omar
• Sa’dun Sheikhu Read more

Response of the Kurdish Human Rights Project to United Kingdom Foreign & Commonwealth Office Annual Report on Human Rights 2009

Last Thursday 18 March 2010, the United Kingdom Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) released its Annual Report on Human Rights 2009.The report provides a round-up of the UK government’s activities and policies to address the principal human rights challenges that it has identified from around the world, including those in KHRP’s project countries, Turkey,  Iraq, Iran, Syria and the Caucuses.
KHRP largely welcomes the overview provided, which reiterates a variety of the concerns that KHRP continues to address across the Kurdish regions. In particular, it was pleased to see that KHRP’s concerns about the rights of Syria’s estimated 1.7 million Kurds who suffer ongoing discrimination, (including 300,000 of whom continue to be denied citizenship), lack of political representation, and repression of their identities, was given a detailed appraisal in the Report. KHRP also joins the UK FCO in applauding the Turkish government’s self-termed Democratic Opening, (though it has concerns about how open and transparent this initiative is). KHRP is however uneasy about the degree to which the continued pervasiveness of human rights violations in the Kurdish regions of Turkey and Iran are not fully reflected. Read more

KHRP Publish Children’s Rights Report and Manual on Human Rights Complaints

KHRP is pleased to announce the publication of its report on children’s rights and its new manual on how to take human rights complaints to the Organisation of Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the European Parliament and the Council of Europe.

The fact-finding mission and research report, entitled The Situation of Kurdish Children in Turkey, seeks to provide a comprehensive account of the hardship faced by Kurdish children in Turkey. Combining desk and field-based research, this report incorporates the findings of its 2008 mission to Diyarbak?r, Cizre and Istanbul with those resulting from the follow-up mission that took place last October. Investigations revealed that Kurdish children face considerable barriers and disadvantages relative to their Turkish counterparts. This was most keenly identified with regard to the treatment of Kurdish children in the juvenile justice system, with those living in the Kurdish regions receiving far less protection. This has become particularly acute given the application of new anti-terror legislation that has been used to criminalise children. The report concludes with some recommendations for the EU and concerned national governments and organisations aimed at ensuring Turkey complies with its international obligations concerning children’s rights. Read more

Syria: Excessive Use of Force by the Security Forces during Newroz Festivities

The Kurdish youth Mohammed Omar was killed by shots fired by Syrian security forces on 21 March 2010Defend International condemns the killing of three Kurdish youth by Syrian security forces in the city of Ar-raqqah during the 2010 celebrations of Newroz.The Syrian government must stop the cycle of violence perpetrated by members of the security forces who are supposed to be protecting ALL civilians.

Press Release

Oslo – Norway, March 23, 2010. Defend International condemns the killing of three Kurdish youth by Syrian security forces in the city of Ar-raqqah during the 2010 celebrations of Newroz, the Kurdish New Year. The Syrian government must stop the cycle of violence perpetrated by members of the security forces who are supposed to be protecting ALL civilians. We demand a thorough, empirical investigation of the use of excessive force against the celebrators. Read more

URGENT ACTION – Hospital patients held incommunicado in Syria

Dozens of Syrian Kurds injured in clashes with law enforcement officials are being held incommunicado in hospital in the city of Ar Raqqah, northeastern Syria. They are at risk of torture or other ill-treatment.

On 21 March, violence broke out between Syrian law enforcement officials and members of the Kurdish minority, an estimated 5,000 of whom had gathered in Ar Raqqah to celebrate Nawrouz, the Kurdish New Year. The gathering was organized by the Democratic Union Party (PYD), a Kurdish minority political party unrecognized by the Syrian authorities. The violence broke out when law enforcement officials objected to those holding up PYD flags and pictures of the ‘Abdullah Ocalan, leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party in Turkey (PKK), who is imprisoned in Turkey. Police used tear gas and pumped water at the crowds then opened fire with live ammunition when some of the participants threw stones at them, killing a 14-year-old boy and possibly other people, and injuring scores of others. Read more

Newroz greetings from UN, USA and UK

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

“The General Assembly’s decision this year to recognize the International Day of Nowruz is evidence of a growing global awareness of the holiday’s significance not only in the regions where it is celebrated but around the world,” Ban said in his message.

During its 64th session on Feb. 23, 2010, the United Nations recognized March 21st as the International Day of Nowruz, calling on its Nowruz-celebrating member states to study the festival’s “history and traditions with a view to disseminating that knowledge among the international community and organizing annual commemoration events.” Read more

Yekiti Party statement on the killing and wounding of a number of Kurds celebrating Newroz after security forces fired on them in the city of al-Raqqa

Information has been received regarding the events that took place today in the city of al-Raqqa whilst Kurdish people were celebrating Newroz, confirming that live ammunition was fired at unarmed Kurds on 21 March 2010. Two people were killed and several wounded, some seriously according to a surgeon. There is no doubt that the security forces, presumably using the excuse of protecting people and providing security and reassurance, provoked people and then spread chaos and turmoil. Read more

KHRP Calls for Immediate Enquiry into Killing of Civilians in Syria

Kurdish Human Rights Project condemns the indiscriminate killing of Kurdish civilians by Syrian security forces at the Newroz festival in al-Raqqa, Syria.

Yesterday three people were shot dead and more than 41 were injured when Syrian security forces opened fire on crowds celebrating the Newroz festival. Eyewitnesses have also reported that many of the wounded have been arbitrarily detained. Others who are seriously wounded are being treated in their own homes for fear of being arrested in the state hospital.

In the evening Kurdish revellers went to celebrate their New Year in the Kurdish area of al-Raqqa. A reported fifteen minutes into the festivities Ba’ath Party members arrived waving Syrian flags and photos of the President. According to reports from the ground, the Syrian security forces shot live ammunition rounds at the crowd and sprayed them with tear gas. Other members of the security forces were on stand-by near the area. Mohammed Omar Haider was said to have died last night in hospital due to his injuries. A young man and a 15-year-old Kurdish girl were also believed to have been killed. Their bodies were taken away by security officials and their names have not been released. People who have visited the hospitals to enquire after family members have been arrested.

KHRP very strongly condemns the Syrian State for its flagrant disregard of international norms in the killing of its civilians. We call for those who were injured to be given appropriate treatment for their injuries without fear of arrest and that those who were arbitrarily detained are immediately released. KHRP demands an immediate investigation into the events in al-Raqqa to be undertaken by a neutral authority, in order that those responsible are held accountable.

KHRP Chief Executive, Kerim Yildiz today stated, ‘KHRP is very concerned to hear reports of such extreme and indiscriminate force being unleashed on unarmed civilians. The use of such lethal force is a grave violation of their right to assembly and an unacceptable abuse of state authority. Such irresponsible violence should be utterly condemned and those responsible for abuses should be brought to justice.’

http://www.khrp.org/content/view/541/2/

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