Suppression of Kurds inside Turkish borders

[Anthea]

At least 16 people detained

in Amed and Malatya

Many houses in Amed were raided on Wednesday, 16 October and at least 15 people were detained. In Malatya, the 76-year-old DEM Party district co-chair was taken into custody

Turkish state forces raided many houses in Amed (Diyarbakır) in the morning hours as part of a political genocide operation and detained at least 15 people. It is reported that the raids were carried out with the arbitrary and systematic accusation of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’.

On the other hand, Turkish forces raided a house in the rural neighbourhood of Hisarcik (Qalik) in Darende district of Malatya based on an investigation conducted by Darende Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

The Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) district co-chair Süleyman Bozkurt (76) was taken into custody.

Bozkurt was taken to Darende District Security Directorate without the reason for his detention being disclosed.

[Anthea]

Five detained in house raids

in Dersim and Bitlis

Turkish police detained five people in their homes in the provinces of Dersim and Bitlis. During the raids, doors were broken down and books and storage media were confiscated

At least five people were taken into custody during house raids in the provinces of Dersim and Bitlis on Wednesday.

In the district of Pertek in Dersim, Zeynel Abidin was detained in his apartment and is accused of supporting a banned organisation.

In Tatvan district of Bitlis, the police searched several apartments at the same time early this morning and detained at least four people, who were ideintified as Nedim Türemiş, Çetin Yılmaz, Milazım Aysal and Diyar Aysal.

The reason for the police operation is not known. The police broke down doors, devastated the apartments and confiscated books and storage media.

[Anthea]

As previously stated:

There is no difference between the Kurds and the Palestinians, both have had their homelands taken over by violent military forces and been subject to long term genocidal attacks for a great many years.

Both their armies: the PKK and Hamas have been classed as terrorist organisations.

The world has become aware of the horrors inflicted on Palestinians but Kurds have been ignored.

If, as many are now saying, the Palestinians should have their lands return to them, then so to must the Kurds

The so-called Kurdish leaders within Northern Kurdistan have continued to add to the suppression of Kurds and NOT ONCE have they mention the similarities between Palestinians and Kurds.

One of the worst ongoing suppression of Kurds is the use of TOWN GUARDS which are basically Kurds used as spies to suppress any cultural Kurdish activity.

Sadly, Kurds in Northern Kurdistan do NOT have a genuine PRO-KURDISH political party to vote for.

Remember the PKK freedom fighters were TRICKED into leaving their Northern Kurdistan homeland.

[Anthea]

DEM Party Headquarters Attacked

A man was temporarily arrested after attacking the headquarters of the Democracy and Equality Party (DEM) late on Thursday, according to Turkish media reports

The incident occurred when the attacker threw stones at the DEM Party’s building, shattering the front windows and damaging the party’s sign. Local police detained the man shortly after receiving reports from witnesses.

The attack comes amid heightened political tensions following a controversial statement by Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Leader Devlet Bahçeli on October 22. Bahçeli proposed that in an effort to end terrorism, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Abdullah Öcalan, could be brought to parliament to declare the disarmament and dissolution of the PKK during a DEM Party faction meeting. This suggestion sparked a wave of mixed political reactions across the country.

The atmosphere further escalated after two PKK fighters attacked the Aerospace Industry and Space Company (TUSAŞ) in Ankara on Wednesday, resulting in five deaths and 22 injuries. The series of events have underscored rising political tensions and security concerns within Turkey.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/864515

[Anthea]

Turkey arrests over 170 for alleged PKK links

Turkish security forces on Friday detained over 170 people for alleged links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), two days after an attack on a drone manufacturing facility in the capital Ankara

“This morning, under the coordination of our General Director of Security… we apprehended 176 PKK-linked suspects in 31 provinces in an early-morning operation,” Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya told journalists in Ankara.

He made the comments after visiting people in hospital with injuries from Wednesday’s attack on a Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TAI) facility in Ankara’s northern Kahramankazan district. Five people were killed and 22 others were injured. Eight people are still in hospital, according to the minister.

The PKK claimed responsibility for the attack

The assault “was carried out by an independent team of the Immortal Battalion. This historic act was carried out with high determination” read a statement from the PKK’s People’s Defense Center (NPG) released on Friday.

The attack came amid a growing expectation that Turkey may restart peace talks with the PKK to bring an end to the 40-year conflict, but the PKK statement said the two are unrelated.

“This event, which was planned a long time ago and was successfully implemented, has nothing to do with the political agenda of the last month that is being discussed in Turkey,” the PKK said.

The aerospace firm designs and builds civilian and military aircraft, including drones. The PKK said that the “weapons manufactured by TUSAS [TAI] have killed thousands of our civilians in Kurdistan, including women and children.”

In response to the attack, Turkey launched strikes on alleged PKK positions in the Kurdistan Region and Syria late on Wednesday, hitting 32 targets.

Twelve civilians have been killed as of Thursday, according to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Strikes have continued on Friday morning and there are reports of more casualties.

The PKK said their forces were unharmed.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeas ... /251020242

[Anthea]

Turkish army launches new operation in Mardin

The Turkish army launched a new operation in the Bagok Mountain.

A large-scale operation was launched by the Turkish army in the Bagok Mountain countryside of Nusaybin (Nisêbîn) district of Mardin (Mêrdîn).

The military operation began on Monday morning. The Turkish forces dispatched dozens of armored vehicles to Xirbê Mishka, Sedderîye, Marîn and the surrounding villages.

It was reported that helicopters were flying over the region as part of the operation

.

[Anthea]

Dozens of nomads and shepherds

detained in Siirt countryside

Dozens of nomads and shepherds were detained during the military operation of the Turkish occupation forces in the countryside of Siirt province

The Turkish army launched an operation in Çemêkarê Plateau in the Herekol region in the countryside of Pervari district of Siirt. The Turkish troops are reported to have detained at least 29 nomads and shepherds in the operation area.

It is reported that detainees were referred to the gendarmerie stations in Kurtalan, Baykan, Pervari, Tillo districts and Siirt city center.

A 24-hour ban on lawyer visits was imposed and a confidentiality order was imposed on the files of the detainees. It is stated that the number of detentions may increase.

[Anthea]

15 people sent to prison in Istanbul

The people taken into custody in police operations carried out throughout Turkey, following the action of two members of the Immortals Battalion against TUSAŞ facilities in Ankara on 23 October, were brought to the prosecutor's office on Monday after giving their statements at the police station.

Fifteen out of 35 people detained in Istanbul were arrested on charges of being members of an organization.

Among those arrested is lawyer Bedirhan Sarsılmaz, a member of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD), who was detained in court.

Detention based on assumptions

It turned out that the police statements regarding the 35 people detained in Istanbul were completely based on assumptions.

ÖHD member lawyers who took the statements of those detained said that the police did not make any concrete accusations against them, and that all the accusations were explained as assumptions and 'intelligence information'

[Anthea]

Turkish Gov’t Replaces Esenyurt Mayor

Turkish authorities on Thursday arrested Ahmet Özer, the mayor of Esenyurt, Istanbul’s largest district, on charges of alleged ties to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), sparking protests from the opposition

The Interior Ministry announced that Özer was removed from office, with Istanbul Deputy Governor Can Aksoy appointed as his replacement.

The arrest follows accusations that Özer, originally from Van in southeastern Turkey, had communicated with senior PKK leader Ramzi Kartal. Istanbul’s prosecutor’s office charged him with terrorism-related offenses

“We are seriously ashamed of democracy again. They are openly interfering in the courts,” Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu said in a press conference outside the courthouse, condemning Özer’s arrest and promising to continue the fight for justice.

CHP Deputy Legal Officer Gül Çiftçi echoed this sentiment, writing on social media: “The authorities will win the municipalities they couldn’t win through elections by force.” The Istanbul Bar Association also criticized the move as unconstitutional, citing Article 127, which limits government intervention in local administrations.

The incident recalls events in 2019 when the pro-Kurdish HDP won over 100 municipalities in Turkey’s southeast, only for the government to replace approximately 80 HDP mayors with appointed officials, alleging PKK ties. At that time, the CHP faced criticism for its muted response, with analysts warning that the CHP could face similar tactics.

The DEM Party, a constituent party of the HDP, denounced Özer’s replacement, stating, “As the DEM Party, we will not allow the will of the people to be undermined.”

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/865182

The DEM Party, a constituent party of the HDP stated, “As the DEM Party, we will not allow the will of the people to be undermined"

The DEM party constantly undermines the will of Kurdish people by trying to persuade them that they do not want Independence or their homeland free of occupation, all Kurds need are a few more rights and they can live as happy slaves

ALL the Kurdish people I have ever met during the last 50 years, including several well know Kurdish leaders and Freedom Fighters, want an Independent Kurdistan

[Anthea]

People taken into custody in Herekol tortured

The people taken into custody during the military operation of the Turkish state in Herekol were tortured

The statement procedures of 24 people taken into custody after the military operation launched by the Turkish state on 28 October in Çemêkarê Yaylası in Herekol region of Siirt concluded on Thursday at the Siirt Provincial Gendarmerie Command.

The detainees are expected to be referred to the courthouse today.

It was learned that the detainees were beaten. The family of Recep Kipçak, one of those taken into custody, is accused of being a member of HPG. He went to Siirt (Sêrt) from Van (Wan), and the family of İlhan Tekinalp came from Hakkari (Colemêrg). It was learned that Kipçak and Tekinalp were tortured during detention.

[Anthea]

The EU Turkey 2024 Report:

The Turkey 2024 Report, prepared annually by the European Commission, the executive body of the European Union, was published on 30 October, and shows that oppression and human rights violations continue in Turkey, Kurds are targeted

The report was presented at a press conference held in Brussels by Josep Borrell, the EU's high representative for foreign policy and security, and Olivér Várhelyi, the commissioner responsible for enlargement.

The report underlined that Turkey "remains at an early stage of preparation in the area of the rule of law and fundamental rights. No progress was made on key issues identified in previous reports and serious concerns remain."

The same applies, said the report, to the area of the functioning of the judiciary, where Turkey "remains at an early stage of preparation in this area and no progress has been made. Despite the adoption of new judicial reform packages, the fundamental shortcomings in the functioning of the judiciary remained unaddressed.

Turkey continued to refuse to implement certain judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). Undue pressure by the authorities on judges and prosecutors continued to have a negative effect on the independence and quality of the judiciary. Serious efforts are needed to significantly improve the functioning of the country’s judicial system.

The Commission’s recommendations from last year were not implemented and remain valid. In the coming year

Human rights situation, an issue of concern

As for the overall human rights situation in the country, the report said that "it has not improved and remains an issue of concern. The Turkish legal framework includes general guarantees for the respect of human and fundamental rights, but the legislation and its implementation need to be brought into line with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and ECtHR case law.

Trials and 6 convictions of journalists, writers, lawyers, academics, human rights defenders and other critical voices for alleged support for terrorism have continued. The Commission’s recommendations from last year were not implemented and remain valid."

The functioning of democratic institutions in Turkey, said the report, "continued to be severely hampered. The structural shortcomings of the presidential system remained unaddressed."

Political pluralism undermined by the judiciary’s targeting of opposition parties

In particular, said the report, "political pluralism continued to be undermined by the judiciary’s targeting of opposition parties and Members of Parliament.

Approximately 8,000 People’s Democratic Party (HDP) members and officials are currently imprisoned. In January 2024, the Court of Cassation defied two Constitutional Court rulings to release one of the detained defendants in the Gezi trial, who had been elected as a Member of Parliament.

In May 2024, several former HDP legislators and two former co-chairs of the party were sentenced to long prison terms despite a ECtHR ruling for their immediate release. The HDP’s closure case on terrorism charges, including the banning from political life of 451 HDP members, remains pending before the Constitutional Court."

Situation in the East and South-East regions

The report said: "Violations of human rights by security forces continued to be reported. Hate crimes and hate speech against Kurds continued. No judicial or administrative remedies were adopted in relation to property rights cases in Diyarbakır’s Sur district.

In March 2024, Kurdish Newroz celebrations took place peacefully, despite heavy police presence. Eastern and southeastern provincial governors imposed arbitrary blanket bans on meetings and events, including before the March 2024 local elections.

A broad interpretation of terrorism and judicial and administrative pressure on journalists, political opponents, bar associations and human rights defenders working on the Kurdish issue continued to raise concerns. Kurdish language media outlets and cultural rights institutions have remained closed since 2016."

The report also underlined that "in the Kobane trial, in May 2024, the court sentenced 24 Kurdish politicians from the former pro-Kurdish HDP party to prison terms on alleged charges of crimes against the State. In a separate trial, the closure case against the HDP continued at the Constitutional Court.

Former HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş remained in prison despite two ECtHR rulings calling for his immediate release. In June 2024, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe urged the Turkish authorities to take all necessary measures to secure his immediate release.

Many new detentions of members of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), mayors and other DEM representatives on terrorism-related charges were reported. In the case related to the 2015 killing of then Diyarbakir Bar Association Chair Tahir Elci, the Court acquitted in June 2024 all three police defendants due to lack of evidence.

[Anthea]

Removing Kurdish mayors

sparks fury in Turkey

Angry protestors, led by opposition politicians on Monday, hit the streets in Turkey hours after Ankara removed three Kurdish mayors on “terror” charges and replaced them with trustees

The Turkish interior ministry ousted the Kurdish mayors of Mardin and Batman, as well as the Halfeti district in Sanliurfa province, and replaced them with government-appointed trustees.

All three mayors are from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party). They include veteran Kurdish politician Ahmet Turk of Mardin, Gulistan Sonuk of Batman, and Mehmet Karayilan of Sanliurfa’s Halfeti district.

Despite an immediate ban on gatherings and demonstrations, thousands of protestors hit the streets across Turkey, mainly in the Kurdish provinces, to condemn the move.

In Mardin, Turk urged people to defy the ban and gather in front of the municipality building. They were also joined by DEM Party leadership as well as the leader from the country’s main opposition the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Ozgur Ozel.

“On one hand, you try to convince people that you’re seeking a solution for something you refuse even to call a problem [the Kurdish issue], and on the other, you appoint trustees over the same person who comes to mind first when you ask, ‘Who advocates for peace in Turkish politics?’” Ozel told the crown in Mardin, referring to Turk.

“There is neither reason nor conscience here,” he added

Turk, 82, who won the local elections in March with a landslide victory, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in May for alleged involvement in deadly protests in October 2014, the case better known as the Kobane trials

Alongside Turk, both Sonuk and Karayilan have been handed prison sentences for alleged “membership in a terrorist organization” charges, referring to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

“They created expectations of a solution, spoke of a ‘new process’ and ‘normalization,’ but today, on November 4, they repeated the political purge they carried out exactly eight years ago. They are liars, they are hypocrites, they are two-faced,” DEM Party co-Chair Tuncer Bakirhan told the protesters in Mardin.

“When they say ‘solution,’ we get oppression, when they say ‘normalization,’ we get trustees appointed, and when they say ‘justice,’ we’re met with injustice,” he added.

After the politicians left, the police reportedly used water cannons to disperse the crowd.

The appointment of the trustees came less than a month after Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ally, called for allowing the jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan to be allowed to address the Turkish parliament and call for the end of the PKK. The speech raised expectations for the re-emergence of a peace process in Turkey.

The Turkish government has recently turned up the heat against the DEM Party and its elected mayors. In June, a Turkish court sentenced the party’s mayor in Hakkari (Colemerg), Mehmet Siddik Akis, to 19.5 years in prison for alleged affiliation with the PKK. Akis was removed from his position days before the court ruling and was replaced by a state-appointed trustee.

Dozens of Kurdish mayors affiliated with other pro-Kurdish parties have been dismissed and replaced with trustees for terror-related charges since 2016, with many of them being sentenced to jail. The DEM Party denies any links to the PKK and maintains it is merely pro-Kurdish.

On Wednesday, Kurdish mayor Ahmet Ozer of Istanbul’s Esenyurt district from the CHP was arrested due to alleged PKK links and quickly replaced with a trustee.

Thousands of Kurdish politicians and supporters of pro-Kurdish parties, mainly DEM Party’s predecessor, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), have been jailed in the past decade for PKK-linked charges. A large number of them remain behind bars.

DEM Party scored several significant victories in the March election. It took Diyarbakir, Mardin, Batman, Siirt, Hakkari, Van, and Igdir provinces, which its sister party, the HDP, won in 2019 only to have their mayors removed because of alleged links with Kurdish rebels and replaced by state-appointed administrators.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeas ... y/05112024

I have never noticed either HDP of DEM as being pro-Kurdish, more akin to second-hand car salesmen

I have NEVER seen either party standing up for Kurdish Independence and freedom

They only got voted in because they are Kurdish and most Kurds have NOT realised that these parties stand for Kurdish suppression

Ahmet Turk is well respected elderly gentleman, he does not need a party, everyone loves and admires him. I had the privilege of meeting him a great many years ago. Just to sit next to him for a few minutes and shake his hand was truly awe-inspiring

[Anthea]

At least 60 people taken into custody

Turkish police attacked the people who protested against the seizure of Batman Municipality and detained at least 60 people

After the municipality of Batman was usurped by the government through the appointment of a trustee and people took to the streets and started protesting with applause and slogans.

The police attacked the protesters with rubber bullets, water cannons and pepper gas. Despite the brutal crackdown, the people did not back down and resisted.

According to reports from the ground, at least 60 people, including members of the municipal council, were taken into custody.

[Anthea]

Music instructor gets 1 year for singing Kurdish song

Cesim Başboğa, instructor at Serhed Cultural Association, was sentenced to 1 year and 15 days in prison for singing a Kurdish song

Cesim Başboğa, one of the instructors at Serhed Cultural Association in Tatvan district of Bitlis, was sentenced to 1 year and 15 days in prison for the song ‘Serhildan jiyan e (To live is to resist)’.

A lawsuit was filed against Başboğa on 8 September on the allegation of ‘making propaganda for a chain of illegal organisations’ after he sang the song at the congress of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party).

The indictment claimed that the Kurdish song had ‘different meanings’ and therefore constituted ‘illegal organisation propaganda’. At the first hearing held at Bitlis 2nd Heavy Penal Court on 1 November, Başboğa was sentenced to 1 year and 15 days in prison for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’.

Başboğa stated that the reason for the sentence reveals the state's approach towards Kurdish culture and language: “We will continue to sing our songs against investigations and pressures. They cannot intimidate us and make us take a step back in this way.”

[Anthea]

Ahmet Türk:

They can never silence the Kurdish people or make them take a step back

While the protests in front of the municipality building continue following the usurpation of the Mardin Metropolitan Municipality, delegations continue paying solidarity visits to those resisting.

In addition to the Mardin Bar Association, Human Rights Association (IHD) and citizens, Kurdish politicians Çağlar Demirel and Ayla Akat Ata and many people visited the protest in front of the Metropolitan Municipality building in the morning.

Co-Mayors Ahmet Türk and Devrim Demir welcomed the delegations and conveyed their support. The politicians made statements after the support visits.

Demir: Those who usurp our will will step back in the face of our resistance

Co-Mayor Devrim Demir saluted the resistance of the people and stated that they will continue their struggle until they get results from the resistance. Devrim Demir said, “We have brought our struggle to this day by resisting and we will increase our resistance after today. Those who usurp our will will step back in the face of our resistance. Let's embrace our will and believe in our struggle. We will win under all circumstances.”

Ata: They are helplessly resorting to appointing trustees once again

Ayla Akat Ata evaluated the appointment of a trustee to Mardin for the third time as ‘desperation’ and said that the real separatism is being done by the government with these policies. Ayla Akat Ata continued:

“The state is helpless in the face of this power. The only tool it has is oppression and it uses it. The only tool it has is lawlessness and it uses it. For years in this country we were told ‘you are doing discrimination and separatism’.

But look at today's practice, this is the real discrimination, the real separatism and the real betrayal to this country. We are the strong one here. Since this power is seen, they are helplessly resorting to appointing trustees once again.”

Demirel: The people of Turkey should leave the Kurdish people alone

Çağlar Demirel said that the people of Turkey should leave the Kurdish people alone and added: “They want to destroy the will of the Kurdish people. We are growing every day, our people are getting stronger every day. As TJA, we are in Mardin and we will protect our will.”

Türk: We are a people who struggle for an honourable peace in this country

Ahmet Türk emphasised the importance of solidarity and talked about his experiences since the 1980 military coup and the process he went through in prisons: “We went through all this, but we never compromised.

We are stronger than yesterday. Today we are in greater solidarity with our people. They can never, ever make the Kurdish people and those who believe in democracy take a step back through the policy of persecution and sticks.

We are a people who struggle for an honourable peace and embrace in this country. We struggle for justice and equality in this country. We are not seat lovers. We are in the squares today against the oppressive and intimidation policies pursued against our people. We are here today to fulfil this responsibility.

We are based on a life in a country with rights, justice and a democratic republic, brotherly with all peoples, meeting in common democratic values. This is the aim of our struggle. For this reason, they can never, ever silence the Kurdish people by appointing trustees and throwing them into dungeons, and they can never, ever make them take a step back.”

The Kurdish politician continued: “The understanding that holds a stick in one hand while extending the other hand can never understand the Kurds.

They cannot see the just demands of the Kurds, nor can they show the will to answer them. If you do not internalise a people with a language, an identity and a culture, you cannot solve the problem or show the will to do so. Today, you act and govern this country with a logic that does not even recognise the existence of the Kurdish people.

When we look at the developments in the Middle East today, when we look at the developments in Iran, they are trying to extend a hand on one side because they know what sort of a period Turkey will be through amid the chaos that will occur in the Middle East. We have indeed held every hand that has been extended until today.

We have always put forward our thoughts for a solution. But you have set a table, and there is nothing on the table. You can neither convince the Kurdish people nor initiate a process that can meet the just and reasonable demands of the Kurdish people by just voicing some rhetoric without saying anything about what you will do.”

Noting that the Kurds are a politicised people, Türk said that if the government comes with the right projects, their outstretched hand will be held. But if you come with an understanding aimed at deceiving, you will deceive yourself. Nothing beyond that will happen.”