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| Harassment of human rights defender Ms Zeybek | Date: 18-08-2000 |
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Open letter concerning the harassment of a human rights defender by the Greek Intelligence Service, 18.8.2000
His Excellency, the Foreign Minister, G. Papandreou The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) is seriously concerned about information received on the harassment of the human rights defender, Ms Aysal Zeybek, Office Coordinator at the Greek Helsinki Monitor, member of the EMHRN, and the fact that her complaints to the Ombudsman were shelved. According to our information Ms. Zeybek was stopped at the Turkish-Greek border on 8 December 1999, when returning to Greece on a bus, and singled out for a three hour ordeal and thorough examination by persons in plain clothes apparently from state security. As a reply to her questions about the reasons for this control, allusions were made to her activities as a minority rights defender. Ms. Zeybek filed a complaint with the ombudsman on 15 December 1999. The reply from the Deputy Ombudsman, Yorgos Kaminis, of 9 June 2000, stated that the inspection fell which is not accountable to the Ombudsman, and that he therefore halts further investigation of the case and shelves the report. The EMHRN is concerned by the manner in which this complaint has been dealt with and by the methods employed against Ms. Zeybek which contradicts of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (adopted by the UN on 9 December, 1998) and runs counter to the spirit of the Barcelona Declaration; where the partners commit themselves to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and recognise the importance of civil society for the development of the region. On this background, the EMHRN asks Your Excellency to ensure an impartial investigation in order to shed full light on this case in conformity with international human rights norms. Sincerely Abdelaziz Bennani Marc Schade-Poulsen |
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