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| F-Type Prison Crisis in Turkey | Date: 22-10-2001 |
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ON THE OCCASION OF THE RELEASE OF THE REPORT ON THE F-TYPE PRISON CRISIS IN TURKEY AND THE REPRESSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS, 22.10.2001 The report: The F-Type Prison Crisis and the Repression of Human Rights Defenders in Turkey: Report from a Fact-Finding Mission to Istanbul and Ankara on 5-11 May 2001 with Updates published by the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network, Kurdish Human Rights Project and the World Organisation Against Torture. The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) would like to express its serious concern with regards to the current prison crisis in Turkey that first began to develop in October 2000. The alarming death-toll related to death-fasts and hunger strikes, coupled with the accelerated deterioration of prison conditions and the impunity offered to prison officials responsible, constitute a blatant violation of fundamental rights, including the right to life and to personal integrity. Despite severe criticisms by international bodies such as the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) the systematic violation of the most fundamental human rights provisions protected by international law continue unabated. The European Court of Human Rights has found in number of cases that Turkey has violated Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), of which Turkey is a party1. The situation is further aggravated by the Turkish governments efforts to thwart any offers to mediate by human rights groups and others sympathetic to the crisis. The Turkish government have to date obstructed any effort to allow international organisations to mediate in the crisis and have instead subjected them to state sponsored repression. The report on the crisis follows a joint fact-finding mission between the 5-11 May, organised by the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network and two of its member organisations: the Kurdish Human Rights Project and the Tunisian League for Human Rights along with the World Committee Against Torture. The report puts forward a list of recommendations related to Turkey’s obligations to promote and protect human rights. The current prison situation and total disregard of human rights warrants urgent initiatives to be undertaken by the international community , including the European Union and the United Nations to urge Turkey to comply with the report’s recommendations and to engage Turkey in concrete programs of action and prevention aimed at strengthening human rights and the rule of law. Notes: (1) Turkey ratified the ECHR on 18 May 1954(back) For further information, please contact: Marit Floe Jorgensen: mfj@euromedrights.net |
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