IMK Weekly Information Service
Date: 11 Sept. – 17 Sept. 2001      Number: 123-124
 
Turkish Human Rights Offices in Diyarbakir Closed Down
Torture Victims and Doctors at Risk of Persecution by Authorities
In a raid on the offices of the Turkish Human Rights Foundation (TIHV) on 07.09.2001, files on torture victims were seized along with the addresses of doctors who had treated the victims and computer
equipment. Because the TIHV is the most important NGO in Turkey involved in the treatment of torture victims, patient information and doctors’ comments are of an explosive nature. In line with medical
ethics, the TIHV have always placed a high value on preserving the confidentiality of the information. Torture victims, and their doctors, are now at risk of being persecuted, arrested and again being subjected to torture.

When TIHV workers indicated to the police the absence of any search authorisation, the police telephoned Diyarbakir’s state prosecutor and immediately received a search warrant in which the treatment of torture victims was cited as an “illegal activity”. The police were instructed to confiscate all documents and computer equipment. 

One of the doctors, Dr. Emin Yüskel, was taken to a police station for questioning. AI are concerned that not only torture victims, but also their doctors, may be subjected to persecution, arrest and further torture.

“If we consider the human rights situation regarding Turkish authorities, it is likely that doctors and their patients could be at risk of renewed abuse”, stated Barbara Neppert, Turkish expert for the German Section of Amnesty International. AI therefore calls on the Turkish government to immediately return the documentation on torture victims to the TIHV. Neppert emphasised that, “According to medical ethics, patient files contain information which is confidential between patient and doctor”. Since their foundation in 1990, the TIHV have been running a treatment and rehabilitation project for
torture victims. Amongst their five treatment and rehabilitation centres is the one in Diyarbakir, operating since 1998. They have an important role in the treatment and rehabilitation of torture victims from Turkey’s south-east. The TIHV won the European Human Rights Prize from the European Council in 1998 because of their “outstanding contribution towards the protection of human rights in Turkey”, and
their campaign to end torture. (Sources: AI, Appeal on Urgent Action, 09.09.01, UA 228/01; Concern for Safety, 10.09.01,
AI Index: EUR 44/064/2001; Press Statement AI-Bonn, 11.09.01; the complete Urgent Action can be accessed on our
Web-Site www.kurden.de)
 

 Three Dead From Suicide Attack Against Police in Istanbul
A suicide bomber killed two police officers, along with himself, in an attack in Istanbul’s busy city centre. At least 20 people, including 13 police, were injured, three of them seriously. The 22 year old Australian tourist, Amanda Rigg, died 3 days later in hospital as a result of the attack. Police revealed that the bomber approached police near Taksim Square before detonating the device. According to the agency Anadolu, the DHKP/C (Revolutionary People’s Freedom Party/Front) has claimed responsibility for the attack. The perpetrator is suspected to be Ugur Bülbül. He had been imprisoned in Bartin as a member of the DHKP/C, had begun a hunger strike there and had then been transferred following the police operation against the prisons. He had been conditionally released in January.

The DHKP/C have already claimed responsibility for an attack in January 2001. The TIHV have meanwhile condemned the attack and have called for peaceful solutions to the economic, social and
political problems in Turkey. (Sources: reuters, 10.09.01; TIHV, 11.09.01; Milliyet, 13.09.01)
 

          Interior Minister Yücelen Threatens Death Fasters
While death fasts in and outside of prisons continue to claim victims, Interior Minister Rüstü K. Yücelen said in reaction to the bomb attack in Istanbul on 11.09.2001, that from now on no tolerance would be
shown towards the death fast protests. He said, “We thought that tolerance was sensible. We have shown patience over the past 3 months. We thought that reason would win through. But now we are to reverse such decisions and will no longer show any patience or tolerance. For the final time, I call on the families of those participating in these illegal protests, to help us. The protests must end. I call on all death fasters and their families to work with us to bring an end to these painful events. Whoever is driving you to do this, whoever is forcing you to do this, they should know that from now on our state will no longer be patient. If intervention is necessary, then we will intervene”. (Source: Hürriyet, TIHV, 12.09.01)
 

                        Circular from Turkish Justice Ministry

In a circular from the Justice Ministry, the duration of police custody has been brought to the attention of state prosecutors. In the circular to all state prosecutors, Justice Minister Sami Türk pointed out that the law must be followed concerning police custody, with the length of custody not being exceeded and questioning being completed within the time permitted, so that no breach of the law takes place. According to the constitution, the duration of custody must not exceed 48 hours, and 15 days for collectively committed offences. Türk made reference to the regulations in the EU human rights agreement concerning the rights of detained people, and asked for common sense when applying legal regulations relating to the freedom and safety of individuals. Detention should take place with the co-ordination of police units so that there can be no grounds for legal complaint. The legal situation of the suspect should be cleared up as soon as possible in order to avoid a release being necessary following a long period of detention. Therefore, questioning should be carried out, and completed, as soon as possible. (Source: Radikal, 13.09.01)
 
            TÜSIAD Demands Reform on Freedom of Opinion
In Ankara, the Turkish Employers Association, TÜSIAD, has presented its package of demands on the lifting of obstacles to freedom of opinion. Presenting the package were Prof. Ersin Kalaycioglu from the
University of Bogazici’s department for International Relations and Political Science, Prof. Suheyl Batum who is the dean of the University of Bahcesehir’s Law Faculty, and TÜSIAD-leader Tuncay Özilhan. Under the title “Perspectives on Democratisation in Turkey” and “The Copenhagen Criteria”, the association recommend amendment to numerous articles within the constitution, the Turkish penal code and anti-terrorist laws. Examples of the demands are the lifting of restrictions concerning freedoms of opinion, the abolition of the term “forbidden languages”, and revoking the paragraph “Banning distribution as a preventative measure” because of it being equivalent to censorship. Included in the laws and regulations for which amendments have been requested are: press laws, laws setting up criminal tribunals, regulations on legal procedure, laws on associations, laws on dangerous publications, laws on military intervention against enemies within the state, police laws, laws concerning radio and TV, laws on war, laws on cinema, video and music publication, and laws on publications in languages other than Turkish. (Sources: TDN, 11.09.01; Complete article on our web site at
www.kurden.de)
 
                      Full Production in Iraqi Military Factories
The Iraqi Opposition have revealed that across the whole country, a series of factories for military production have been rebuilt and enlarged. Components for missiles and non-conventional weapons are
being manufactured. Many of the plants are located near the borders to Syria and Jordan, with 8 of them working at full capacity. According to western news agencies, the plant in Al Qayem is producing chemical war-heads for ballistic missiles. The CIA suspect that the missiles have a range of 650km, i.e. capable of targeting Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. (Sources: World Tribune.com, Middle East Newsline, 08.09.01)
 
Kurdish Village On Contact Line Repel Iraqi Military Attack 
According to a source within the Communist Party of Kurdistan – Iraq, on 06.09.2001, a large Iraqi army unit comprising armed vehicles and tanks, attempted to occupy the village of Duanza Imam near Kifry on
the border to Iraq. 

Many villages in the free border regions have contact with Iraqi forces and are subjected to artillery bombardment. Last May, the village of Hennara in the same region, was attacked in a similar way.
(Sources: KurdishMedia.com, 09.09.01 from: Al-Sharq Al-Aussat, Arabic Newspapers from London)
 
      Saddam Hussein Calls on Kurds to Return
In a speech on Iraqi television, Saddam Hussein appealed to the Kurds to unite again with “the homeland”. He said that the Kurds should put aside their differences and come to the negotiating table
as soon as possible to enable dialogue with Baghdad. He also said, sarcastically, that he had left the Kurds in peace over the past few years so that they could sort out their internal problems and feuding
clans. The Kurds should resist any “foreigners and spies” wanting to divide Iraq. (Source: KurdishMedia.com, 12.09.01)
 
             28 Political Prisoners Executed in Iraq
Informed Iraqi sources have notified the Iraqi National Congress (INC), that the Iraqi government have executed 28 prisoners, including women, in Aby Ghraeb’s prison as part of their campaign of “prison
cleansing”. Saddam Hussein’s son, Qussay, allegedly ordered the executions with prisoner heads Saib Al-Nassiry and Nessir Sheriff carrying out the executions using special units of the security forces.
(Sources: KurdishMedia.com, 09.09.01 from: Al Mutamar, Arabic INC-Weekly Paper)
 
                            Iraq Rejects No-Fly Zones
“Iraq categorically rejects the so-called no-fly zones which have been imposed unilaterally by the USA and Great Britain without any legal basis, without authorisation from the Security Council and without
connection to any relevant UN Security Council Resolution. Iraq rejects everything resulting from this unlawful act, especially the false pretexts and excuses these states use to justify their brutal aggression against our country”.

In a letter to the General Secretary of the Arab League, Amrou Mousa, the Iraqi Foreign Minister, Naji Sabri, has demanded that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait end their logistical support for the attacks by
American and British fighter aircraft. He considers Saudi Arabia and Kuwait as carrying co-responsibility for destroying Iraq’s territorial integrity and for material damage and the loss of human life. Alone in the period from 11.08.2001-14.08.2001, there were 105 flights by F14, F15 and F16 aircraft. Because of their logistical support, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait had made themselves into “key partners for US and British aggression”.

Iraq uphold the right, in accordance with international law, to protect themselves against such attacks in order to maintain their security and sovereignty, and to demand compensation for the physical, financial and psychological damage caused by these attacks. (Source: Iraqi News Agency, Baghdad, 09.09.01)
 
                           Saddam’s Forgotten Victims
“We are a people numbering more than 30 million. We have a larger population than two thirds of the UN member states are able to claim. But nobody mentions us!”, complained the Kurdish human rights
activist Bakhtiar Amin from the Coalition for Justice in Iraq, a grouping of 250 NGOs who campaign for Kurdish rights. Amin described the Kurds as the largest ethnic group in the world who have no officially
recognised state.

At the World Conference Against Racism in Durban, Amin attempted to bring the situation of Kurds in Iraq to the attention of the international community. International attention had been directed towards the Kurds during the Gulf War when they became the first victims of the Iraqi regime’s use of chemical and biological weapons. The Iraqi regime still refuse to supply the Kurds with maps of mined regions. This makes it impossible to farm or establish settlements. Amin pointed out in Durban, that the human rights of the Kurds were being abused in various ways. There were bans and restrictions on being taught in one’s own language, expulsions from Kurdish regions and the denial of the right to self-determination. He said that the world had forgotten the Kurds, “perhaps because they (the international community) trade with those countries who suppress us or because they juts looked on as Saddam killed us”. Although the fate of the Kurds received little awareness at the conference, Amin did not consider his trip to Durban to have been in vain. A taboo had been broken. It had been the first time that a Kurdish leader
was able to speak about the suffering of the Kurdish people to an assembly with the Arab League. (Source: Guardian, ap, afp, 07.09.01)
 
           Germany Opens “Trading Office” in Baghdad
The Düsseldorf trade publication Handelsblatt, reported on 04.09.2001, that the German diplomat, Claude Robert Ellner, had opened a “Trading Office” for his country in Baghdad. Agreement had also been reached on acquiring buildings for new offices as well as a residence. A spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry would not confirm this. Instead, Berlin confirmed that they did not wish to
change their policy in respect of Iraq or the US alliance partners.

However, the head of the Association of German Industrialists (BDI) Ludolf von Wartenburg, and other BDI members, have called for a loosening up of German policy to Iraq and for the presence of an
ambassador to off set any competitive disadvantages in respect of rival countries. German industry expects emancipation from the US in German policies towards Iraq, Iran and Libya. (Source: RFE/RL IRAQ
REPORT Vol. 4, No. 29, 14.09.01)
 
              Booming Trade in Illegal Immigrants
Greece seems increasingly to be the gateway to Europe for Afghans and Kurds. Alone in the first 10 days of September, police apprehended 570 people without valid papers on the Aegean holiday island of Kos. Traffickers had organised their crossing under the cover of night and fog. The mayor of the island’s main town requested urgent help from the government in Athens because accommodation for illegal immigrants had been completely depleted. Greek oastguards have apprehended 3000 illegal immigrants and 71 suspected human traffickers since the beginning of the year. 

However, they estimate 10 times as many have got through their security net. The authorities speak of several thousands of people waiting on the Turkish Aegean coast for clandestine crossings to Greece and then on to other countries of the EU. Trade in illegal immigrants is booming. Three Turkish traffickers recently confessed to receiving 3000 dollars per head for the crossing of 350 illegal immigrants . One of the traffickers had only just been released from a Greek jail. He had served a 3 year sentence for bringing 150 illegal immigrants to Greece.
The mass of islands in the Aegean is practically impossible to control. An officer from the Greek coastguard posed the rhetorical question, “How can we provide round-the-clock monitoring of 160 inhabited and 1500 uninhabited islands?”. Illegal immigrants arriving in Greece normally apply for asylum which is usually rejected. They are then
accommodated in homes. However, because these are not adequately monitored, residents can quite easily get away. They then make their way to the ports of western Greece where they can smuggle
themselves aboard ferries to Italy, hoping to reach western Europe undetected. They usually manage this because, according to information from the Greek Media, they pay a lot a bribes while underway. On 16.09.2001, around 920 illegal immigrants, mostly Kurds, arrived at the Calabrian coast aboard 2 ships. They were in good health and were taken to reception centres by the authorities. (Sources: dpa 11./15./16.09.01)
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Important and interesting articles, Urgent Actions, appeals etc. which we were only able to briefly, or not at all, report in WIS, are available in full on our Web Site at www.kurden.de. Those
selected are:

Tough Constitutional Amendment Marathon Kicks Off on Sept. 17: Turkish Probe, 09.09.01

TUSIAD calls for reforms to increase freedom of expression: TDN, 11.09.2001
 
Turkish parties close ranks against
Generals : Dawn Internet, 12.09.2001

New Kurdish movie released: TDN, 11.09.01

Israeli-Turkish Ties Flourishing: AP, 08.08.01
 
TURKEY: Human Rights Foundation of Turkey - Their patients: UA 228/01; Fear for safety, 10
September 2001 AI Index: EUR 44/064/2001
 
AI-Press Statement: Turkey
Torture Victims and Doctors at Risk of
Persecution by Authorities: Bonn, 11.09. 01 
 
PUK and KDP agree to eliminate Islamic fundamentals Jund Al-Islam
KurdishMedia.com, 12.09.2001
 
Shadow of Usama Bin Laden in South Kurdistan: KurdishMedia.com, 12.09.2001

Bin Laden's Plan to Destabilize Kurdistan

Kurdistan Newsline Special Edition, 20.9.01

U.S. policy on sanctions is just fine with
Saddam: Toronto Star, 09.09.2001
 
The sons who promote Saddam's cruel legacy: The Independent, 08.09.2001
 
The Iraqi Connection 
The Wall Street Journal, 13.09.2001
 
The Iraq Connection: Blood Baath 
The New Republic, 13.09.2001 
 
Ex-CIA chief sees Iraqi fingerprints 

upi, 14.09.2001
 
Iraqi Novel Basis for TV Series: AP, 11.06.01
 
Appeal By Supreme Council to International Circles to Order End to Mass Executions ofIraqi Prisoners: Iraq News– News Sheet of the Supreme Coun-cil of Islamic Resistance in Iraq ,Sept 2001

Refugee Drama in Channel Tunnel - "Explosive Situation" : dpa, 11.09.2001

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