Turkey Condemned for DEP Trial
The European Court of Human Rights has found Turkey guilty of serious legal mistakes in trials against four former Kurdish parliamentary representatives. The court in Strasbourg said that the Turkish state must pay 25,000 US dollars to the complainants Leyla Zana, Hatip Dicle, Orhan Dogan and Selim Sadak, as well as 10,000 US dollars in lawyers’ costs. The four former DEP representatives had been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in 1994.

The Strasbourg judges were unanimous in their decision that Turkey had breached Article 6 of the Convention on Human Rights in its trials against the former representatives of the pro-Kurdish Democracy Party (DEP). The “impartiality” of the court had been violated through the presence of a military judge. The representatives had also not been informed quickly enough of the accusations against them and were not given enough time to prepare a defence.

Yusuf Alatas, lawyer to the DEP members, demanded a retrial because the state security court had been biased and not independent. 

Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Türk pointed out, however, that the Strasbourg court had demanded only payment of compensation and that no release of the former parliamentary representatives was being considered. (Sources: afp, 17.7.01; TDN, 20.07.01)
 

Human Rights Foundation TIHV Submit Half Yearly Report
 The Turkish Human Rights Foundation (TIHV) has submitted an extensive report on the human rights situation in Turkey. In a statement at a press conference in Istanbul, the head of the foundation, Yavuz Önen, revealed that in respect of the National Programme, it was clear that Turkey was not willing to change its course. Regarding constitutional reforms, Önen said, “It looks as though the 1982 constitution will be amended without any change to its core”.

Önen further criticised that there had been no dialogue with civil organisations, neither in the drawing up of the National Programme nor in the planning of constitutional change.

Freedom of Thought and Opinion
-Books, Newspapers and Publications Removed from Circulation:     32
-Newspapers and Magazines Closed Down:         15
-Total Period of Closures:                            260 days
-RTÜK Closures (Publications)      :                 2836
-RTÜK Warnings (to Broadcasters):                      38
-Banned Films and Plays:                                        6

Criminal Cases Concerning statement of Opinion
- Dismissals:                     3
- Suspended Convictions:    4 
- Imprisonments:                2
- Trials in process:             33
- Investigations in process:    6
- Not guilty verdicts:            36
(Source: Özgür Politika, 07.07.01)

 
15 Year Anniversary of Human Rights 
Association IHD
Six years after the military putsch of September 1980, Turkish prisons were full of political prisoners who had been convicted by military courts. Those concerned did not want to take anymore torture or the terrible conditions and practices taking place within the prisons, or the long waits before courtrooms and lawyers’ offices. After many meetings and discussions in Ankara and Istanbul between 1985 and 1986, 98 founding members submitted the foundation documents of Insan Haklari Dernegi – IHD to the Ministry of the Interior on July 17th, 1986. The IHD was born.

Since then, thousands of people, within and outside of Turkey, have worked for or with the IHD in protecting and promoting human rights. Thousands of people have turned to the IHD for help.

The association has been working under the severest of conditions for the past fifteen years. Executive members, ordinary members, supporters and employees are increasingly becoming targets for attacks. IHD activists have to live with attacks on their lives, with threats, imprisonment, torture and police raids. But the IHD continue with their work in organising podium discussions, symposiums, human rights courses, the publishing of bulletins, reports and books, and the half yearly and yearly reports on the human rights situation. The IHD also concern themselves with individual cases of human rights violations, get into contact with government departments, help victims with legal proceedings, investigate human rights violations and publish their findings. In the past 15 years the IHD have campaigned for the abolition of the death penalty, for the banning of torture, for the freedom of statement, for peace, for a general amnesty, for the abolition of state security courts, and for the prevention of disappearances whilst in police custody.

The IHD formed a human rights foundation (TIHV) to campaign more efficiently against torture, as well as aiding in the rehabilitation of torture victims and in campaigning for legal action to be taken against torturers. The TIHV have developed proposals and recommendations on judicial, administrative and training methods regarding torture prevention. They maintain torture rehabilitation centres, of which there are not enough, and document human rights abuses in their daily reports.

The Human Rights Association IHD and the Human Rights Foundation TIHV enjoy a high level of international regard and respect. 
(IMK e.V.)

 
IHD Diyarbakir Publish Monthly Report
Osman Baydemir, leader of the IHD in Diyarbakir, submitted his branch’s June Report at a press conference, and stated that the human rights situation in the Kurdish regions was not encouraging. Ten people had died in an armed skirmish. One person died in an unlawful execution, and 3 were injured. Four people died because of land mines and 7 were badly injured. One hundred and thirty five people were detained incommunicado and 42 people were imprisoned. There were 39 accusations of torture. Fifteen people were injured in attacks on demonstrations. Eight people were expelled. Eighteen newspapers and magazines were banned from being distributed in state of emergency areas. One play performance was banned. (Source: IHD-Diyarbakir, 16.07.01)

 
DBP Head, Yilmaz Camlibel: “You Want to Silence Me!”
Yilmaz Camlibel, head of the lawful pro-Kurdish party, DBP, has made a dramatic call to the public. In the Kurdish newspaper Deng (The Kurdish Voice), Camlibel wrote: “My life is one of bans, persecution, interrogation, legal processes, and prison sentences. Since I’ve been head the DBP, every comment and speech I’ve made has been scrutinised by the state security courts. I am attempting to be politically active in an ever increasing state of siege”. According to Camlibel he has been sentenced to prison in one case, legal proceedings are to be taken against him in 4 other cases, and in 10 others investigations are being made against him. 

In all cases, tape recordings are being presented as evidence. Camlibel considers it to be judicially doubtful as to whether tape recordings can be used as evidence. “Unfortunately, in my case the tapes are neither played back word for word nor correctly quoted. The state prosecutor or police officer just puts his own comments down on paper, and I get punished for it”.

Legal proceedings were brought against Camlibel for a speech he made at a DBP Newroz event in Mersin. The complaint states: “The accused attempted to incite members of society, whose roots and culture is of the same, into a Kurdish state and to split the country into two ethnic groups, Kurds and Turks, and to place in question the indivisibility of the Turkish Republic. Therefore a complaint is made against him for violating Law No. 3713 [Anti-Terrorism Law] Article 8/1”. This can be punished with a 4-8 year prison term and a high financial penalty. (Sources: Deng, Nr. 60, June 2001, ISSN 1302-7964)

The Dying Continues – Justice Minister Türk Takes a Positive View
Justice Minister Sami Türk has revealed that courtrooms are to be set up in the new Turkish prisons to avoid unpleasant incidents taking place when transferring prisoners to their hearings.

Regarding the hunger strikes, Türk said that the actions by 17 organisations in 17 prisons continues. Ten people were on hunger strike and 172 on death fasts. Of those on death fasts, 65 were in hospital with only 25 allowing themselves to be treated. The sentences had been suspended for 6 months for 83 prisoners because of their poor state of health. They had been handed over to their families until they recovered.

Justice Minister Türk praised the F-Type prisons as the best, most modern and secure prisons in Turkey. There were another 4 currently being built and construction had been completed on a further 2 in Buca and Izmir. Since the F-type prisons had come into service, 20 regular prisons had been closed down.

Meanwhile, the number of dead through death fasts has risen to 29:

Prisoners: Cengiz Soydas 21.03.; Adil Kaplan and Bülent Coban, 07.04.; Fatma Ersoy, 10.04.; Nergis Gülmez and Tuncay Günel, 11.04.; Celal Alpay and Abdullah Bozdag, 12.04.; Erol Evcil and Murat Coban, 13.04.; Gürsel Akmaz, 16.04.; Endercan Yildiz, 18.04.; Sibel Sürücü and Hatice Yürekli, 22.04.; Sedat Karakurt, 24.04.; Fatma Hülya Tümgan, 28.04.; Hüseyin Kayaci and Cafer Tayyar Bektas, 06.05.; Veli Günes, 16.06.; Aysun Bozdogan, 26.06; Gökhan Özocak, 04.07.; Ali Koc, 08.07.; 

Prisoners’ relatives: Gülsüman Ada Dönmez, 09.04.; Canan Kulaksiz, 15.04; Senay Hanoglu, 22.04.; Erdogan Güler, 24.04; Zehra Kulaksiz, 29.06;

Death fasts completed following release from prison: Ugur Türkmen, 27.05.

A coroner’s report published in Turkey has thrown new light onto the events surrounding the storming of 20 prisons on December 19th 2000.

The report concluded that at least 6 of those who died in Istanbul’s Bayrampasa prison, died of gas inhalation which the army had used in the raid. The report was critical that too much gas had been used, and that the gas cartridges in question were unsuitable for deployment in closed rooms. The Interior Minister of the time, Sadettin Tantan, had justified the use of gas by saying that they had not used live ammunition in order to avoid injuring the prisoners.

Twenty-six prisoners died in the prison raids by the army and police units. According to Justice Minister Türk, most of the dead had died through self-immolation. An interview with a former prisoner, Elif Dincer, published by Radikal, raises doubts on the official version of the events. She experienced the raid on dormitory C-1 in Bayrampasa prison and was severely injured by a chemical substance. The security forces had made 30-35 holes in the ceiling through which they threw gas bombs and sprayed a chemical substance. “When I put my hand to my head I noticed that my skin was peeling off”, said Dincer who still today has evidence of burns to her face and body. (Sources: Radikal, FR, 04.07.01; Radikal, 15.07.01; TDN, 18.07.01)

 
Amnesty International Urgent action for Erdal Bulut
According to reports, the student Erdal Bulut (20) is being followed and threatened by civilian clothed police. Because he has already been tortured by the police, Amnesty International fear that he is in great danger. For fear of his life, Erdal Bulut has gone into hiding.

In November 2000, he was detained and tortured by police, who wanted him to inform on political organisations in the University of Bogazici where Bulut was a student. Since then, he has been persistently persecuted, followed and threatened. Erdal Bulut submitted a written complaint to the Turkish Human Rights Association (IHD), in which he claims he was tortured. Because of this complaint, he now fears renewed arrest and torture. In his report, the student revealed what happened to him in November 2000. Three police officers in civilian clothes boarded the minibus in which he was travelling in the Istanbul district of Mecidiyeköy. They bound his eyes and hit him. They then threatened to kill him. While this was happening, they forced the bus driver to keep driving. Because his eyes were bound, he didn’t know where he was when the police took him off the bus. They held him for 2 days in a room which was like a “cesspit”, handcuffed and with his eyes bound. He claims that during interrogations he was tortured with electric shocks to the hands and feet and was brutally beaten. The interrogators wanted him to inform on political groups within his university. They had told him: “….from now on you will tell us everything that happens in your school”. Two days later, Erdal Bulut was driven to Istanbul and released.

Recommended Action:
 Write, Fax or Airmail 
   Expressing your concern at the reports that the student Erdal Bulut is being harassed and threatened by police;
   Calling on the authorities to guarantee his safety and to set up an inquiry into the threats against him;
   Expressing your concern at the reports of Erdal Bulut having been tortured and reminding the Turkish government of their responsibilities in respect of Article 3 of the European Council’s Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”);
   Calling for an immediate inquiry into the accusations of torture and insisting that anybody found responsible of such would be brought before a court of law;
  Demanding that the student be protected from any further torture or abuse.

Appeal to: Prof. Hikmet Sami Türk (Minister of Justice), Mr. Rüstü Kazim Yücelen (Interior Minister)

Copies to: His Excellency, Mr. Oman Toney Koru Turk
End of Urgent Action: 14.08.01

(Sources: AI-Urgent Action, UA-Nr: UA-164/2001, AI-Index: EUR 44/039/2001, Date: 03.07.01)

 
 
Amnesty Urgent Action for Tekin Ülsen
According to reports, Tekin Ülsen (24) has been held in south eastern Turkey, against Turkish law, and has allegedly been maltreated and tortured by police.

According to witness statements, he was arrested on 23.06.2001 by 5 police officers in civilian clothes in Diyarbakir. His family made 7 written requests to Diyarbakir’s state prosecutor for information about him and each time received the reply that Tekin Ülsen was not being detained. His name was also not on any of the official lists, found in all police stations, of those being detained in the city. On 09.07.2001, a man told the family that he had been held in the same cell as Tekin Ülsen in Diyarbakir’s police headquarters. On 10.07.2001, police raided Tekin Ülsen’s home saying that they were searching for him. On 13.07.2001, 2 police officers took Tekin Ülsen’s sister to Diyarbakir’s police headquarters to identify 5 people who had been arrested for allegedly having false identities. She recognised her brother amongst them, and was allowed to briefly speak with him. She realised that he was not able to stand and had difficulty recognising her. She assumed that this was as a result of torture.

According to Turkish law, the police may detain people for a maximum of 10 days. Thereafter, the detainee must either be released or transferred to prison. If Tekin Ülsen has been detained since 23.06.2001, then there has been a breach of the law.

Background Information:

Amnesty International have many reports of illegal detentions in the Anti-Terrorist Unit of Diyarbakir’s police headquarters. Fesih Güler was tortured while being held illegally there (see UA 317/00 from 5. July 2001). Fahrettin Özdemir spent 59 days in police custody and was tortured in the most severest way (see EXTRA 30/00 from 11. August 2000). When Edip Gümus and Cemal Tutar were brought before a court they claimed that they had already spent 5 months in police custody. During this time, they had allegedly been placed under severe psychological pressure.

Those suspected of offences for which the state security courts are responsible, can be held in police custody for up to 4 days without any contact to family, friends or legal representatives. This time period can be extended by 3 days, and even by 6 days in state of emergency regions (such as Diyarbakir). After 4 days at the latest, the detainee must be given access to legal representation – this rarely happens in practice.

Amnesty International continually receive reports from Turkey concerning the torture and abuse of people in custody of either the police or gendarmerie. As long as they have no contact to the outside world, they are at the mercy of their interrogators. Torture is used to obtain “confessions”, information on illegal organisations, to force prisoners to become police informers or as “punishment” for suspected support of banned organisations. The most often used methods of torture include stripping, blindfolding and spraying with ice cold water, being hung from the arms which have been tied behind their backs, electric shocks, beatings to the soles of the feet, death threats and sexual abuse.

Turkish Criminal Processing Regulations (CMUK), which are concerned with the speedy and correct registering of prisoners and the informing of family relatives, are often not adhered to. Abuse of such regulations does not only cause severe concern to family relatives, but also provides preconditions for “disappearances” and torture.

Recommended Action:
 Write, Fax or Airmail
·          Expressing your concern at the reports that Tekin Ülsen is being abused and tortured in the Anti-Terror Unit of the Police Headquarters in Diyarbakir.
·          Calling on the authorities to ensure that he is not further tortured or mistreated.
·          Protesting that his detention was not confirmed right from the beginning, and that he has been held for longer than the permitted 10 days.
·          Demanding his immediate release if he is not immediately transferred to a prison.
·          Reminding the Turkish government of their responsibilities in respect of Article 3 of the European Council’s Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”).
·          Demanding that the Turkish authorities immediately ensure that the practice ends of illegal detention in Diyarbakir, and that all persons who have spent longer than 10 days in custody are either transferred to prisons or are released.
·          Demanding that effective measures are taken to prevent future mistreatment and torture from taking place in Diyarbakir’s police headquarters.

Appeals to: Prof. Hikmet Sami Türk (Justice Minister), Rüstü Kazim Yücelen (Interior Minister)

Copies to: Attila Cinar (Diyarbakir’s Chief of Police), S. E. Osman Taney Korutürk

End of Urgent Action: 28.08.01

(Sources: AI-Urgent Action, UA-Nr. 173/2001, AI-Index: EUR 44/043/2001, Datum: 17.07.01)

Addresses: 
Prof. Hikmet Sami Türk, Adalet Bakani, Adalet Bakanligi, 06659 Ankara, Turkish Republic, Telefax: (00 90) 312-418 5667; (00 90) 312-417 3954

Rüştü Kazim Yücelen, Icisleri Bakani, Icisleri Bakanligi,  06644 Ankara, Turkish Republic, Telefax: (00 90) 312 418 1795

Attila Cinar, Diyarbakir Emniyet Müdürü, Diyarbakir Emniyet Müdürlügü, Diyarbakir, Turkish Republic 

Embassy of the Turkish Republic, S. E. Herrn Osman Taney Korutürk, Rungestr. 9, 10179 Berlin, Telefax: 030-275 90 915   , E-Mail: turk.em.berlin@t-online.de

Death In Police Custody: Police Receive Prison Sentences
The case was brought to a close on 18.07.2001 in the Second Criminal Court in Ankara, against 10 police officers for the death of Birtan Altunbas whilst in police custody. Birtan Altunbas had been taken into police custody on 10.01.1991 in Ankara and died on 16.01.1991 in a military hospital in Gülhane.

The police officers claimed their innocence, even on the final day of the trial. The defendant Ibrahim Dedeoglu, said in his defence speech that everyone arrested could claim to have been tortured – he maintained that Altunbas had not been tortured.

The court sentenced the police officers İbrahim Dedeoglu, Sadi Cayli, Hasan Cavit Orhan and Süleyman Sinkil to 8 years imprisonment each for non-intentional killing through injury, in accordance with Law 425/1 of the Turkish Criminal Code. Because of various regulations concerning sentence reduction, their prison sentences will be reduced to 4 years, 5 months and 10 days. They will be banned from working in public service for a further 3 years. 

The police officers Tansel Kayhan, Talip Tastan, Mehmet Kirpici and Muammer Ekin were found not guilty because of lack of evidence.

The cases against the absent police officers, Ahmet Bastan and Naip Kilic, for whom arrest orders have been issued, were excluded from this trial. The addresses and telephone numbers of these meanwhile pensioned officers have, following an investigation, been obtained from the pension fund administrators.

Ibrahim Dedoglu was an MHP candidate in the 1999 elections, and has continued to be an advisor to the minister of state Faruk Bal. (Source: Radikal, 19./20.07.01)

 
Police Officer Convicted of Murder
The No. 1 Criminal Court in Beyoglu arrived at a judgement on 28.06.2001 against the police officer Abdullah Bozkurt. He had shot dead the student Vedat Han (Welathan) Gülsenoglu (19) on 22.03.1994 in the Kasimpasa police station in Istanbul.

The victim had been arrested on 22.03.1994 following a non-authorized Newroz demonstration in Istanbul Kasimpasa.

Bozkurt had given himself up voluntarily at the beginning of the year so as to profit from the law on conditional release. He has not spent any time in prison over the past 6 years, despite it being known that he served as a police officer in Afyon and that it had been proven right from the outset that the fatal shot came from Bozkurt’s weapon.

The police office has now been sentenced to 36 years imprisonment but, under numerous regulations, this sentence has been reduced to 10 years. If the judgement is confirmed, Abdullah Bozkurt, who has been held in custody for the past 3 months, will spend 4 years in prison. (Source: Radikal, 05.07.01)

 
Case Against Kurdish Institute
The case against the head of Istanbul’s Kurdish Institute, Hasan Kaya, concerning the organisation of Kurdish courses, continued on 11.07.2001 in the First Criminal Court in Sisli, Istanbul. In his defence speech, Kaya said that the Kurdish Institute had been founded in 1992 and takes the unity and indivisibility of Turkey as the basis for its activities. Its activities involve the research into regional culture, language and literature. 

The complaint had been made by Sisli’s Culture Department. Kaya has been accused of founding the institute without authorization and therefore of being in breach of Law No. 625 concerning private training institutions. There is a penalty of up to 2 years imprisonment for such an offence. (Source: TİHV, 12.07.01)

Poison Gas Attack Against PKK Guerrillas
An IHD delegation carried out an investigation from 27.06.2001-29.06.2001, in the village of Elmali in the district of Yedisu and the province of Bingöl, concerning accusations that in May of this year, 21 PKK guerrillas were killed by poisonous gas near the village.

Osman Baydemir, the IHD’s deputy head and head of the Diyarbakir branch, said at a press conference on 06.07.2001 that there were grounds to take the accusations seriously.

An eye witness claimed that a white powder had been thrown from an aeroplane.

No wounds could be found on the body of the dead PKK-fighter Meral Özcan. Her body was discoloured. There were also inconsistencies within the state prosecutor’s documentation concerning the location of the events, the autopsy reports, objects seized and confessions made. (Source: Evrensel, 07.07.01)

Syrian KDP Request Support
We have received a call for help from Syria’s KDP, through the Society for Endangered People:

“On 30.06.2001, the head state prosecutor in Aleppo, Syria, Mohamed Samir Seriq, on the basis of documents from Aleppo’s secret service No. 55-2001, and a police report from Jabal Samaan No. 113-2001, issued a legal complaint (No. 319) to the second chamber of the Economic Courts against 19 Kurds. He has based his complaint on paragraphs 32 and 15/2 of  the economic laws, whereby he accused the persons listed below to have violated the socialist system and thereby to have caused injury to common ownership[...] 

These persons were part of the 150 Kurds arrested by the political secret service Al-amn Al-Siyasi at a peaceful, official demonstration on 01.06.2001. Clashes took place following relentless police provocation, whereby 1 police officer and many demonstrators were injured. Out of the 150 arrested, 42 were detained for several days after having been maltreated, threatened and tortured. On 28.06.2001, 30 people (including 5 under-aged people) were handed over to the state prosecutor. Furthermore, 5-11 people were transferred to the State Security Courts (Mahkamat Amn Al-Dawle) in Damascus. Harsher sentences than in regular courts can be issued here.

We request that you put pressure on the Syrian government to release the prisoners”. (Source: KDP-S, 08.07.01)
 
 

Syrian Human Rights Activist Nayuf Granted Permission to Travel
Intensive activity by human rights organisation has achieved results. Authorities in Damascus have issued a travel pass to Paris to the severely ill Syrian journalist and human rights activist, Nisar Nayuf. Prior to his departure from Damascus, Nayuf said that he wanted to spend 10 days in France, to visit Germany and then to return to Syria. The nearly-blind Nayuf wishes to have treatment in France for back problems and lymph gland cancer.

According to writers’ organisations, Nayuf had been abducted in Damascus 6 weeks following his release after 9 years in prison. The journalist organisation Reporter Ohne Grenzen, revealed that the severely ill journalist had been overpowered on an open street by 6 armed men who then took him to an unknown location. According to information from Germany’s central office of the PEN organisation, the abductors were suspected of being members of the secret police. PEN had wanted to put the 44-year-old Nayuf before the press on the same day, to give details of crimes by Syrian secret police both in Syria and abroad. Syrian authorities have denied the accusations. They say no order for his arrest had been issued.

In a letter to Assad, Reporter ohne Grenzen called for the journalist’s immediate release. The arrest revealed that the Syrian state “wants to silence any dissonant voices”. Nisar Nayuf had been released from prison on 06.05.2001, during the Pope’s visit to Syria, and had then been placed under house arrest. The prize winning journalist had been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, with withdrawal all citizen rights, in 1992 for the “spreading of false information”. He had made public a document from the human rights organisation “Committee for the Defence of Democratic Freedom” which condemned human rights abuses during the 1991 elections in Syria. (Sources: afp, 21.06.01, 15.07.01)  

Concentration of Iraqi Troops on Border to Kurdish Regions
According to information from Kurdish and Iraqi sources, Saddam’s regime has assembled its forces along the borders to the area under Kurdish regional government. Washington and London are concerned about the threat posed by this action.

On 07.07.2001, the newspaper Iraq Daily, an official organ of the regime, said that Baghdad was planning a military offensive in the region to destroy the 10-year-old Kurdish self-administration there. The increasing rate of expulsion of Kurdish inhabitants from the province of Kirkuk also indicates an imminent military attack.

Two Iraqi military helicopters were seen on 30.06.2001, hovering for 20 minutes above the Kifri citadel near to Kirkuk. This is considered to be part of the expected military manoeuvre. There have also allegedly been armed skirmishes between Iraqi troops and smugglers around the Kifri citadel.

At the same time, Saddam Hussein has been calling on the Kurdish leadership for “peace negotiations”. The head of the Iraqi KDP, Massoud Barzani, gave a clear rejection to Saddam’s apparent “peace call”. (Sources: Middle East Newsline, KurdishMedia.com, 07.07.01; Kurdistan Newsline Nr. 01, 12.07.01; reuters, 15.07.01)

Land Mines in Kurdistan
Land mines continue to endanger the lives and safety of people in Kurdistan. A new organisation (Mine Advice Action Group; in Kurdish, COMA) has been founded within the Ministry for Humanitarian Concerns of the Kurdistan Regional Government, to bring greater public awareness of the fatal effects and consequences of mines. They are to cooperate and work with the UN organisation concerned with mine clearance (UNOPS).

COMA are initiating a training course for organisations in Iraqi-Kurdistan, on the theoretical and practical dangers of mines. The course, for 48 participants, lasts for 18 days and takes place in Sulaimania.

In the 1980s, the Iraqi army laid millions of mines in Kurdistan as part of their burnt earth policy of ethnic cleansing. UNOPS are currently clearing the mines in the region. The Iraqi government refuse to issue military maps of the region, which would make mine clearance significantly easier and reduce the risk of accidents. The Iraqis are creating further obstacles to these efforts such as delaying visas for UNO personnel and deliberately holding up mine-clearing equipment at customs points in Jordan. (Sources: Kurdistan Newsline Nr. 01, 12.07.01; Nr. 02, 19.07.01)

Death Threats By Email: Odi Saddam Hussein Threatens KurdishMedia.com Reporter Ahmad
R. M. Ahmad, one of the most active employees of KurdishMedia.com, received an Email on 05.07.2001 from Saddam Hussein’s oldest son, Odi. It read as follows:

“To Mr. Ahmad,This is a warning to the recipient of this Email, Mr. Ahmad. In the name of the Republic of Iraq, we wish to inform you that we have the means of finding out where you are presently living. For months now, we have been monitoring your activities on the Net, which have been against the State of Iraq. We demand that you end activities which are hostile to your homeland. Our young and willing agents have the means to stop people like yourself, at any time and any place that we desire….

Down with the USA and the UK and all their agents Republic of Iraq Odi Saddam Hussein” KurdishMedia.com have called on the International Community to protect their reporters and have requested the UN to query their Iraqi representative about the threat. (Source: KurdishMedia.com, 08.07.01)

Church Asylum Safeguards 1500 Refugees
The so-called “church asylum” in Germany has cared for around 1500 refugees over the past 5 years. As revealed by an inquiry from a national ecumenical working group submitted in Berlin on 20.06.2001, deportation has been prevented in 73% of all church asylum cases. Spokesman for the group, Wolf-Dieter Just, criticised deficiencies in the German asylum procedures. Initial hearings frequently do not do justice to the refugees’ circumstances and persistently lead to errors of judgement. The working group emphasised that without church asylum, refugees would have been deported whose lives really were at risk in their homelands.

For example, the inquiry revealed that 16.5% of all church asylum cases became officially recognised as being politically persecuted or that agreement had been reached to put a stop to any deportation. In 5.7% of cases, refugees obtained permanent residency. In 32% of church asylum cases there had been tacit agreement to stay by the authorities. According to Just, 220 parishes provide church asylum. Two thirds of all cases concern Turkey. The majority of asylum applicants taken on by the church were Kurds. (Source: dpa, 20.06.01)

Resolution from Specialist Forum: “Odyssee into the Unknown – Traumatised Kurdish Refugees in Germany”
The IMK e.V and the Therapeutic Centre for Victims of Torture of the Caritas Refugee Advice Association Cologne e.V, organised a specialist forum from 15.06.2001-16.06.2001 in the Maternushaus in Cologne, Germany entitled “Odyssey into the Unknown – Traumatised Kurdish Refugees in Germany”.

Themes covered at the forum included causes of traumatisation and its treatment by specialists. The following resolution was passed by the specialist participants:

The flight of Kurdish people, of all ages and from all social classes, to Europe and Germany has been continuing for years. Not only Kurds from Turkey, but also from southern Kurdistan and Iraq, have been forced to flee and seek asylum. People do not easily choose to leave their homes. For decades, Kurds from north and south Kurdistan have been subjected to persecution, torture, daily humiliation as well as continual expulsions, murder and bombardment. This reality has robbed the people of any hope of living a normal life in peace and safety with their families. A large number of the refugees are traumatised. The journey, often taking months and with many life-threatening dangers, adds to the chain of traumatisation. Year long asylum procedures keeps people in a state of suspense making impossible any plans for the future. Restrictions on movement from the registered location during the asylum application procedure, also adds to the strain. 

Even the small number of officially recognised Kurdish refugees realise that they have little chance of participating in German society. Family get togethers are in certain cases heavily influenced by the restrictive foreigner’s law. They experience many difficulties. They lose a sense of purpose to life. They also notice that their previous traumas have not been overcome, but return to haunt them. Some cannot achieve any kind of new perspective on life and become severely mentally ill. To realistically deal with their current situation, they require treatment for the traumas experienced in their homelands.

The participants welcome work opportunities for traumatised refugees from the German Federal Employment Agency, and for the setting up of a right to stay for Bosnian refugees by the Interior Minister Conference.

The participants of this specialist forum welcome the efforts by the ministries to engage with the situation concerning Kurdish refugees - their multi-traumatisation represents a real challenge to German society.

The participants of the specialist forum consider that the following changes are required regarding traumatised Kurdish refugees:

·          The right to stay for severely traumatised Kurdish refugees and unaccompanied under-aged refugees

·          Lifting of restrictions on movement, in particular for traumatised refugees, so that they may receive therapeutic treatment and be able to visit relatives which would aid in their psychological stabilisation

·          Unrestricted medical treatment for refugees

·          That asylum procedures take into account any torture and suffering experienced which may come to light during the process and any psychological traumatisation associated with such.

·          Refugees often have problems obtaining work because of language problems and lack of qualifications. Current support programmes in this respect, which would enable easier integration into local society, are inadequate in both content and duration. 

·          That general support and integration aid is available for refugee’s children for the duration of the asylum process, particularly for traumatised children.

·          Financing and equipping of therapy centres for torture victims in Germany, and political and financial aid for human rights activities.

·          Training and further training for specialist workers in the health system concerning trauma specific problems. Awareness instruction for governmental departments and administrators who may have contact with traumatised refugees, e.g. BAFI, social departments, immigration departments and health departments.

·          Access to intercultural medical and social services

·          Training for interpreters in this area

·          Comprehensive public awareness programmes for refugee causes, traumatisation and therapy

·          Awareness programmes for Kurdish organisations regarding traumatisation and therapy so that they may realise and overcome their collective trauma and recognise their tasks within society

For further information on these issues, the following may be contacted:

Ms. Brigitte Brand-Wilhelmy and Ms. Hamidiye Ünal from the Therapy Centre for Torture Victims of the Caritas Refugee Advice Association (Tel.: ++ 49 221 160 740) or Mr. Abubekir Saydam and Ms. Ciler Firtina from IMK e.V. (Tel.: ++49 228 368 802).

 
 
Sweden Honours Kurdish Writer
The Swedish Writers Association has honoured the Kurdish writer and historian Mahmoud Mala Izzat, publisher of the newspaper Kurdistani Nw e (New Kurdistan). He receives 30,000 Swedish Krone in honour of his writing and academic activities. The prize is presented bi-annually to outstanding writers and academics for their political, historical and literary work as well as for translations.

His last book published had the title “Journey Without an End” which had already received an honour form the Writers Association. Izzat is a member of the association in Sweden and author of 9 historical and political books. He has also translated 4 books on politics and philosophy. He is currently finishing work on a new book entitled “The Republic of Kurdistan”, which will be published by the Sardam publishing house, under the leadership of the well known Kurdish poet, Sherko Bekes. (Source: Kurdistan Newsline Nr. 02, 19.07.01)