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| Open Letter to the Turkish Authorities about the Trial of Zeki Uzun | |
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Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network Observatory for the protection of Human Rights Defenders Open Letter to the Turkish Authorities Trial of Zeki Uzun The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network and the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint program of the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation against Torture (OMCT), are deeply concerned by the judicial procedure launched against Dr. Zeki Uzun, a member of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (HRFT), affiliated to FIDH, and of Yzmir Medical Chamber-Physicians Council. Dr. Zeki Uzun is a volunteer gynaecologist of HRFT-Yzmir Rehabilitation and Treatment Centre and has examined female torture victims for 6 years. He is accused of " aiding an illegal organization and sheltering its members " under article 169 of the Turkish Penal Code, for providing medical treatment to two of his patients. He was detained on 19 December 1999 during 7 days, and was allegedly subjected to physical and psychological torture in detention. The second hearing of his trial is to take place on 24 February 2000 before Izmir State Security Court. In the first hearing, on 19 January 2000, Dr. Zeki Uzun was not allowed to relate the torture he had been subjected to and the presiding Judge refused to include in the court’s minute, the alternative medical report issued by Yzmir Chamber’s Medical Examination and Reports Commission, testifying of these torture. In their defense, lawyers stated that the case file did not contain any concrete evidence other than the testimonies - accusations - of a repentant defendant. The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network and the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders consider this judicial procedure to be arbitrary and to gravely contravene to the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 9th December 1998. This procedure is adding to numerous judicial procedures against human rights defenders in Turkey and seems to be part of a strategy aiming at preventing them from freely pursuing their work. In this context, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network and the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders ask the Highest Turkish authorities to : Ensure that the right to defend human rights is guaranteed and in this respect ensure that human rights defenders enjoy universally recognized human rights, including the right to a fair and impartial trial and the right to psychological and physical integrity ; In this regard, abide by the provisions of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 9th December 1998 and more particularly article 11, which states that " everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to the lawful exercise of his or her occupation or profession " and in its article 12.2 that " everyone is entitled, individually and in association with others, to be effectively protected under national law in reacting against and opposing, through peaceful means, activities and acts, including those by omission, attributable to States which result in violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms as well as acts of violence perpetrated by groups or individuals that affect the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms ". Take the necessary measures to propose legislative amendments in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights and other international instruments, and thereby to remove article 169 of the Turkish Penal Code ; More generally, abide by the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the regional and international covenants ratified by Turkey. |
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