Kurdish farmers in Deyrik pressured to pledge not to reclaim their land from the Syrian State

Some Kurdish farmers have been forced to sign blank papers which will be used to stop them reclaiming their land when the license granted to them expires.

On 17 July 2010, Political Security branch in Deyrik forced some of the peasants from the village of Pastasous to sign papers accepting that when they have finished their licenses they no longer have the right to benefit from the land they have cultivated for decades, and that they return the land to the State, and will not to use or cultivate it again. Read more

Iran: Release and Provide Urgent Medical Care to Jailed Activist

Mohammad Sadigh Kaboudvand May Have Suffered Stroke; Family Claim He is Not Receiving Adequate Health Care – Human Rights Watch report

Kaboudvand needs an immediate and thorough assessment of his worsening condition. Denying a prisoner necessary medical care is both cruel and unlawful. Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch

(New York) – The Iranian Judiciary should provide urgent medical care to Mohammad Sadigh Kaboudvand and free him from his unfair detention, Human Rights Watch said today. Kaboudvand, a leading advocate of Kurdish rights in Iran, is serving an 11-year sentence on politically motivated charges. He suffered what may have been a stroke on July 15, 2010, and his family says he is not getting the medical attention he needs. Read more

Nationalist Turkish attacks on Kurds in Dortyol escalate

Following the attack of the other day on a police patrol and the security directorate building in Dortyol district of Hatay province in which 4 police were killed nationalist Turks attempted to lynch the Kurds living in the town

So called ‘ülkücü’ racist groups attacked office of the pro-Kurdish BDP party and set fire on. The attackers also destroyed 50 businesses run by the Kurds including cafes, restaurants and jewellery shops.

20-year old Kurdish youth injured. Read more

Question in the Houses of Parliament – 27 July 2010

Question

Asked by Lord Hylton

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made, or will make, representations to the government of Syria to establish the fate of 400 persons recently arrested on suspicion of membership of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party.[HL1594]

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): Our officials are aware of these reports but have not been able to verify them. However, we are concerned about the human rights situation of the Syrian Kurds. It is a source of particular concern that so many Kurds are denied Syrian citizenship-300,000 out of 1.7 million.

My honourable friend Alistair Burt, the Minister of State for the Middle East, raised human rights privately with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al Muallem during his visit this month to Syria.

We have a firm and frank dialogue with Syria including on human rights issues. We also discuss these issues regularly with EU partners.

Hansard

27 July 2010

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/text/100727w0002.htm#10072736002066

Kurdish man’s wife and brother imprisoned in his place, in Syria

Jiyan Fattah, aged 24, married to Abdul Rahman Bashir Ibrahim is the mother of two young children. Her home was raided by Syrian intelligence security on 25 November 2009. She has been arrested because her husband escaped from prison.  Her husband made a deal with an official Mahmoud al-Ageel, first assistant in Hassaka prison, that in return for a bribe of $30,000 he would be allowed to escape.

Kurdnas has been informed that Mahmoud al-Ageel reports that the police commander in Hassaka is a major partner, and the mastermind in this deal. The reason given was that Abdul Rahman Bashir Ibrahim needed to see his family in Deyrona Akhe where he was born. When they took him home to collect the money, he and the intelligence security forces with him had a good meal together (not in the deal). He gave the money to the security officials, and he then disappeared and the patrols went back to normal duties as though nothing had happened. Read more

A law suit meant to silence Kurdish-expert Besikçi

“The Glory of Science in Turkey” is being sent back to prison

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) has labeled the planned law suit against internationally renowned Turkish sociologist and author Ismail Besikçi as a “scandelous attempt to silence a critical voice for the Kurds.” Starting Wednesday, he is expected to go before the 11th criminal division in Istanbul to face a charge of particularly serious crimes. The famous Kurdish-expert has been charged with creating propaganda for the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), which is banned in Turkey. The District Attorney’s Office is demanding a prison sentence of eight and a half years. “Besikçi is, however, involved with the 15 million Kurds in Turkey on a purely scientific basis. To punish him for his work is completely arbitrary justice,” said Dr. Kamal Sido, consultant for the Middle East at the STP. Besikçi published, within the context of his personal research, an article titled “National Self-determination and the Kurds” in the Turkish magazine, “Our Era.” The magazine editor, Zeycan Balci, is likewise threatened with eight and a half years in prison. Read more

Kurds disappear in the Syrian prison system for nine months

Syrian Human Rights Committee – MAD reports that on 22 July 2010, Manal Ibrahim and Rojhat Mustafa were transferred to the court of the military judge in Aleppo, following their arrest on 15 October 2009. These women had been unaccounted for since their arrest by the Political Security branch in Aleppo.

Aref Mohammad Shekho, born 1953 in Afrin, was arrested one and a half months ago in the Afrin area, after being summoned by the security forces. His fate is still unknown. He was previously a member of the provincial council.

Read more

15 year old Berivan is released after 9 months in Turkish prison

DIYARBAKIR, Kurdish Southeastern region of Turkey, — Young Kurdish prisoner Berivan S. was released from Diyarbakir prison Tuesday after spending nine months in jail Firat News agency reported. The decision to free her is to be linked to the approval in parliament of the amendments of the TMK (Anti-Terror Law) regarding children under 18.

Berivan S. was arrested in Batman on 9 October 2009. She had joined a demonstration against the ongoing military operations. The young girl was charged under the Anti-Terror Law and was sentenced to 8 years prison term. The first request of the Prosecutor was for 13 years and six months but her sentence was reduced due to the age.

Many are the kids still in Turkish jails as the battle to have them release goes on. Read more

Six arrests in ten days in al-Raqqa, Syria

According to Syrian Human Rights Committee – MAD, during the first ten days of July 2010 the Syrian authorities through intelligence security forces arrested six Kurdish people in al-Raqqa city:

• Ibrahim Mamed Mahmud
• Mohamed Ayoub Tammo
• Mohammad Khalil Ayoub
• Hajji Rashid Othman
• Walid Rashid Othman
• Masood Rashid Othman Read more

Abdul-Hafiz Abdul al-Rahman is now allowed family visits after 5 months in prison

Amnesty International reports that Kurdish human rights activist Abdul-Hafiz Abdul al-Rahman is now allowed family visits at Aleppo Central Prison, where he now appears to be receiving adequate medical treatment.

Abdul-Hafiz Abdul al-Rahman was brought before a military judge on 22 June, and charged with two offences relating to his work to promote the human rights of Syria’s Kurds. A prisoner of conscience, if found guilty he could be sentenced to three years in prison

Many thanks to all who sent appeals. Amnesty International will continue to campaign for Abdul-Hafiz Abdul al-Rahman by other means. Read more

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