Turkey

Journalist Abdullah Kilic

Meydan

SENTENCED TO 6 YEARS AND 3 MONTHS IN JAIL

Journalist Abdullah Civan

Today’s Zaman

SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS AND 5 MONTHS IN JAIL.

Journalist Abdulkadir Cihan

Today’s Zaman

Sentenced to 10 Years and 5 months in Jail.

PRESS RELEASE: CRUCIAL HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN TURKEY AND VIGIL FOR DECEASED PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES BECAUSE OF THE PERSECUTION

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FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE

CRUCIAL HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN TURKEY AND VIGIL FOR DECEASED PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES BECAUSE OF THE PERSECUTION

On July 15, 2016, Turkey witnessed an attempted but failed coup which made an accelerating impact on Turkey’s already fraying democratic mechanisms and allowed the administration to launch a sweeping purge to cleanse public service and security bureaucracy of his political opponents and critics. More than 150,000 public workers, including generals, admirals, judges, prosecutors, doctors, teachers, police officers and etc., have been summarily sacked by emergency decrees without due process. For more than 3 years we have been facing ruthless human rights violations against hundreds of thousands of people – from arbitrary deprivation of the right to work and to freedom of movement, to torture and other ill-treatment, arbitrary detentions and infringements of the rights to freedom of association and expression. As a result of those inhumane operations of the authorities and also during escapes through the Evros River and the Aegean Sea, so many deaths have occurred. Recently 7 people including 5 young children lost their lives while trying to flee the persecution by boats like other thousands of people did. Today we are gathered to commemorate those deceased people whether directly murdered by being tortured, denied medical treatment, or indirectly killed by being forced to dangerous ways of escapes. As we always do, today once more again, we call on the Turkish government to ensure human rights all over the country and follow the rule of law. We also urge the international community to take action to stop these crucial human rights violations in Turkey.

Hafza Y. GIRDAP
Spokesperson
directorhg@silencedturkey.org

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TAKE ACTION ; Vigil in remembrance of those who died in the Aegean Sea while fleeing from the persecution in Turkey.

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On Friday, September 27, 2019, the boat carrying desperate people fleeing persecution in Turkey sank. Seven out of 19 people on the boat passed away.

Mustafa Said Zenbil, 12 years old
Meltem Zenbil, 40 years old
Kevser Sezer, 58 years old
Mahir Isik, 4 months old
Ibrahim Isik, 3 years old
Mustafa Kara, 6 years old
Gulsum Kara, 8 years old

Funerals were held and 2 of the deceased were buried on the slope of Chios with the help of Greek citizens.

While the Greek media published the news as, “The angels escaping from Erdogan lost their lives in the Aegean Sea,” about the unfortunate event, the Turkish media used inappropriate name-calling.

Please join us on Saturday, October 26, 11:00 am -1:00 pm in Bryant Park, New York in remembrance of those who died in the Aegean Sea.

After the collective prayer for those who passed away, flyers with information about this sad event will be distributed. Cookies will be shared for the benefit of those who passed away.

In Turkey, 278 people have already died due to not being able to stand the persecution, having heart attacks and other serious medical conditions, from torture, while fleeing from persecution, after car accidents, or by the struggle for survival under difficult conditions.

Don’t be silent about this persecution! Take action and come to Bryant Park on Saturday, Oct. 26!

For more information and to find out about all of our activities, please follow us @silencedturkey

Send us an email if you want to participate

Help@silencedturkey.org

Willing contributions of any size are always accepted and appreciated.

Report on 278 persecuted lives in Erdogan’s regime

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October 2019 / (31 pages)

The Erdogan government is showing disregard to the rights of its dissidents. Hundreds of thousands of people have been detained and arrested. Among the prosecuted are journalists, civil servants, teachers, politicians, academics, human rights defenders, public workers, law enforcement officers. Unfortunately, torture and ill-treatment have become a dire reality in custody. As a result of those inhumane incidents also escapes through the Evros River and the Aegean Sea, so many deaths have occurred.

Today we have launched a booklet about deceased people because of persecution. Media is silenced so the deaths have been occurring without any media coverage due to the political pressure on the media. Some of the news coverage was looked into and later was confirmed after they were shared on social media platforms. The list was further scrutinized and the news coming from unreliable sources were removed. The remaining names were included in this study.

Considering the limited access to accurate data in Turkey, the number of deceased people are also limited in this booklet. Yet, we will continue to follow up on this issue and update the study we gather new information. If you are aware of someone who was not included in this list, you may reach us by visiting “www.silencedturkey.org” or by emailing help@silencedturkey.org

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Vigil and Protest for 864 Babies In Jail in Turkey

864 Babies are in Jail Protests Booklet

The imprisonment of babies is just one element of the Turkish government’s crackdown on innocent people. Approximately 217,000 people have been detained and more than 82,000 people have been arrested on terrorism charges. Those prosecuted include journalists, civil servants, teachers, politicians, academics, human rights defenders, police officers, and military personnel. The prosecutions often lack compelling evidence of criminal activity. As a result, government officials use torture and ill-treatment in custody, including severe beatings, threats of sexual assault and actual sexual assault, electric shocks, waterboarding and interference with medical examinations.