TÜRKIYE-The repression against the Kurdish people: Human Rights Council Working Group on Universal Periodic Review

4^th cycle  –  49^th session

April / May 2025

MOUVEMENT CONTRE LE RACISME ET POUR L’AMITIÉ ENTRE LES PEUPLES (MRAP)

Is a French organisation born of underground resistance to Nazism and fascism, it was officially founded in 1949 on the initiative of former members of the Resistance and deportees.  MRAP is member of the French National Human Rights Institution (Commission Nationale Consultative des Droits de l’Homme – CNCDH) and it enjoys UN-ECOSOC status since 1974.

The objectives of the organisation are to combat all forms of racism, promote friendship among peoples and equal rights for all human beings.

Contact: Mr. Gianfranco Fattorini (Main representative at UNOG) – fgf.mrap@yahoo.fr – +41793265102

 

 

KURDISH CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (Kurd-CHR)

Is a Swiss organisation created in 2000, whose main objective is to collect and analyse information about the violation of human rights of the Kurdish people in Türkiye, Syria, Iraq and Iran and to inform the public, as well as the UN Human Rights mechanisms.

The organisation also develops cultural projects aiming to raise awareness of Kurdish culture and support the integration of the Kurdish population in Switzerland.

Contact: Mr. Mehmet Ilkhan (President) – kurd.chr.geneve@gmail.com – +41766937712

 

 

 

Annex 2

List of Kurdish prisoners died in Türkish detention centres

 

The following Kurdish prisoners died in 2021 for different reasons:

• Erdal Kilinc died of Covid 19 on12 May in Istanbul Silivri Prison.
• Serif Vatansever died of Covid 19 on 16 May 2021 in Kocaeli Type 2 Prison.
• Mehmet Ozen (37 years old) was released on 25 July from Burdur E Type Prison after suffering a brain haemorrhage and died on 5 August.
• Cenk Sari died of a heart attack on 5 August in Antalya E Type Prison.
• Mehmet Ali Celebi (70) was released on 25 August from Xinjiang Prison in Ankara and died on 4 September at Çam Sakura City Hospital in Istanbul, where he was being treated.
• Kenan Ozcan who was being held in Afyon Bolvadin Type C Prison was taken to Eskisehir City Hospital on 17 September and died on 20 September.
• Halil Gunes : He is on the human rights association’s list of sick prisoners, was arrested on January 2, 1993, received a suspended vertebrae prison sentence and spent 29 years in prison. In 2014, the Diyarbakir Gazi Yasargil Training and Research Hospital reported that he could not be ‘imprisoned’ for Halil Gunes, who was diagnosed with lung and bone cancer, while the Judicial Type Agency prevented his release by saying that he could “live his life alone and remain in prison”. In 2014, the lawyers were denied an application to the Constitutional Court to ‘stop his treatment’ in order to improve his illness. Halil Gunes was found dead at his prison cell on December 15, 2021. Halil Gunes, who was placed on a one-person hucre five days ago, was allegedly not given the drug in recent days.
• Garibe Gezer died on 9 December in the Kandıra High Security Prison (according to the authorities by suicide). A female political prisoner, Garibe Gezer was transferred from Kayseri Prison to Kandıra prison on 15 March and on her arrival she was isolated in a cell for 22 days. During her detention in Kandira Prison she suffered inhuman treatment, sexual violence and different forms torture that she wanted denounce. Although the facts were known and a group of deputies brought the case before Parliament and called for an investigation, the Ministry of Justice did not give any answer, no investigation has been launched by the prosecutor’s office and no action has been taken against those responsible.
• Abdulrezzak Şuyur (56) died on 14 December in İzmir Aliağa Şakran T Type Prison. Şuyur, who suffered from asthma was deported to Şakran after Siirt and Antep prisons, was diagnosed with lung cancer in September 2021, but was not treated although he asked to be treated in a hospital. His brother Muhsin went to prison on 14 December to see Abdulrezzak, who had not called for 2 weeks. The prison administration said that they would not be allowed to meet with him without giving any reason. The prison administration, then, called Şuyur’s family one hour after his brother left the prison, to inform them that Abdulrezzak had died.
• Vedat Cem Erkmen died on 19 December in Tekirdag Type F prison. He was sentenced to an aggravated life sentence and 374 years in prison. The prison administration called the prisoner’s family at around 9 pm, informing them that Erkmen had taken his own life. The prison officials also told the family that they had tried to take Erkmen to hospital, but he had died on the way. Erkmen’s autopsy was conducted before the arrival of the family members and lawyers. The family’s lawyer Istekli shared information that during his weekly phone on 17 December, Erkmen asked his brother to file a criminal complaint against the prison administration. It was reported that the family meant to take their son’s body to Digor Dağpınar Association [Digor is a district in Kars, where Erkmen’s family is from] in Istanbul, but the police practically “kidnapped” the body, taking the body without the will or the permission of the Erkmen family to another destination.

 

 

According to the Human Rights Organisation in Turkey (IHD) the Turkish authorities ruled that the following Kurdish prisoners died in 2022 committing suicide:

1. İlyas Demirdied in Bolu T Type Closed Prison
2. Murat Ergindied on 11 January in Van M Type Closed Prison
3. Yilmaz Ekinci died on 13 January in Aydin E Type Prison
4. Mehmet O.on 19 April in Antalya Closed Prison
5. Seyit Şahindied on 26 April in Patnos L Type Closed Prison
6. Yusuf Akmısır died on 8 May in Bolu F Type Closed Prison
7. Ferhat Doğandied on15 May in Tarsus T Type Closed Prison
8. E.Y. died on 20 May in Adana/Ceyhan M Type Closed Prison
9. Sıddık Uğurdied on25 May in Batman/Beşiri T Type Closed Prison
10. Siddik Ugur died on 25 May in Batman Besiri T Type Prison
11. Kadir Karademirdied on 12 June in Patnos L Type Closed Prison
12. Mehmet Yılmazdied on 25 July in Şanlıurfa E Type Closed Prison

 

 

According to the Human Rights Organisation in Turkey (IHD) the Turkish authorities ruled that the following Kurdish prisoners died in 2022 due to their health conditions:

1. Bozo Yilmaz (former co-mayor of Halfeti-Goklu) died on 18 August in Urfa No:2 T type Prison
2. Mehmet Candemir(former HDP member of Party Assembly) died on 15 August in Giresun Espiye Prison
3. Turgay Deniz (38) with severe tuberculosis had been using a respiratory assist device for 12 years. He was not released despite doctors declaring that he could not stay in prison. After collapsing in prison and being hospitalised, he died in hospital on 2 February from insufficiency. The prison administration called the family only after the doctors said he had no chance to survive.
4. Ramazan Turan died on 21 January in Van Prison
5. Emre Calisir died on 26 January in Kandira Prison
6. Sefa Korce died on 29 January in Adana Kurkculer F Type Prison
7. Bedri Cakmak died on 11 March in Diyarbakir D Type Prison
8. Servan Can Guler died on 22 March in Van F Type Prison
9. Abdo Baran died on 24 March in Midyat M Type Prison
10. Ibrahim Yildirim died on 14 August (10 days prior to his release) in Elazig No:1 Prison

 

 

 

 

The following Kurdish prisoners died in 2022 for unknown reasons:

1. Mehmet Hanifi Bilgin died suspiciously on 30 January in Bolu prison (five months before his release). A Kurdish political prisoner arrested when he was a student, he was sentenced to life imprisonment and detained in Type F prison. His family was informed that he had lost his life as a result of a heart attack. Mr. Hanifi Bilgin had suffered a heart attack three years before.
2. Ali Kaya died on 25 February in Denizle D Type Prison
3. Ercan Eke (43) died on 5 March in Aliağa Şakran Prison. He spent 13 years in prison due to a criminal case. His family was notified that the foot slipped and fell to the ground. In Eke’s preliminary autopsy, it was claimed that there were beating marks on her head.
4. Sinan Kaya (28) died suspiciously on 20 March in Igdir S Type Prison
5. Şervan Can Güder (20) died suspiciously on 22 March in Van F type prison. Although he had no disease recorded, the prison administration claimed that Güder died due to a heart attack.
6. Umut Bulut  (17) died suspiciously on 23 March in Elazig T Type Prison
7. Osman Ali Yilmaz died suspiciously on 10 July in Bodrum S Type Prison
8. Kadri Ekici died suspiciously on 21 July in Diyarbakir No:2 Prison
9. Taner Atmaca died on 29 July in Batman M Type Prison
10. Mel Hacioglu died on 6 September in Diyarbakir Women Prison

 

 

In 2023, 43 individuals lost their lives.

The names of those who have been identified are listed below.

1. Talip Alan died on 6 February in Hatay T-Type Closed Prison; while attempting to escape he was shot dead by the gendarmerie, along with two other prisoners. Additionally, 12 prisoners were injured.
2. Erhan Konuk died on 7 April in Bursa Closed Prison; allegedly by a heart attack.
3. Ufuk Akçekaya died on 10 April in İzmir/Kırıklar No. 2 F-Type Closed Prison, allegedly committing suicide.
4. Neşet Özçelik died on 16 April in Afyon/Dinar T-Type Closed Prison, allegedly committing suicide.
5. Abdullah Kaynar died on 30 April in Elazığ Type Closed Prison, allegedly due to an accident involving a prison vehicle on the road.
6. Abdulhalim Kırtay had been imprisoned for 30 years. He was released from Burhaniye T-Type Closed Prison and died due to his illnesses on 12 May, 51 days after his release.
7. Behçet Kaplan (31) years old died on 16 May in Ahlat T-Type Closed Prison. He had stomach cancer and was not treated for a long time.
8. Kamil Turanlıoğlu died due to a heart attack on 21 May in Elazığ No. 2 F-Type Closed Prison
9. Ahmet Rıza Özkan was released from Trabzon/Beşikdüzü T-Type Closed Prison. He was a cancer patient and died on 21 May, one year after his release.
10. Ali Kara was detained in Rize/Kalkandere L-Type Closed Prison. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2006 and was arrested in 2020 while undergoing treatment, which was interrupted. He died on 29 May, five months after his release.
11. Kutluhan Söylemez died on 11 June due to illnesses in Alanya Closed Prison.
12. Bayram Tekin died on 20 June due to illnesses in Sincan Closed Prison.
13. Bişar Yazıcı was detained in Van High-Security Closed Prison. He died on 8 July from liver failure in a Diyarbakır hospital where he had been taken.
14. Duygu Koral (26) died on 20 March (allegedly committing suicide) in Kocaeli Kandıra No. 1 F-Type Prison. The family stated that the death was suspicious because in previous phone conversations with his family, he had mentioned that he was handcuffed behind his back, constantly beaten by the guards and then placed in his cell.

 

 

Kurdish detainees died in 2024

• Ergun Akdoğan spent 27 years in prison. He was in Tekirdağ No. 1 F-Type Closed Prison and on 13 May suffered a brain haemorrhage. He passed away at Tekirdağ City Hospital on 23 May. His family was prevented to see his body.
• İsmet Çardak was held in Elazığ R-Type Prison and was released on 28 February. He passed away from a heart attack on 14 March.
• Reber Soydan (20) was sentenced to 53 years imprisonment due to his views on the Kurdish freedom struggle. After having spent 2 years in prison, he allegedly committed suicide on 12 May in Van F-Type High-Security Prison. His death is considered suspicious.

 

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mouvement contre le racisme                               Kurdish Centre for

et pour l’amitié entre les peuples                               Human Rights

https://mrap.fr                                        https://www.kurd