Human Rights Association (Turkey)
Encyclopedia
The Human Rights Association (HRA; İHD) is an NGO for advancing Human rights in Turkey
, founded in 1986 and headquartered in Ankara
.
s, journalist
s, intellectual
s, but mainly relatives of political prisoner
s. The Human Rights Association works on all kind of human rights, but is mainly focused on abuses in Turkey. In 1992 the statute was changed to cover humanitarian aspects as laid out in the Geneva Conventions
. Since then the HRA has also criticized human violations of armed groups.
. The 24 board members are elected for terms of two years on the association's general assembly. The headquarters in Ankara as well as many branches (in particular the branches in Istanbul
and Diyarbakir
) are running commissions according to the need. The commission cover subjects such as the Kurdish question
, women, children, prisons and torture
.
Some of the large number of campaigns of the HRA were: freedom of expression
(2001), general amnesty for prisoners (1999), abolition of the death penalty (abolished in 2002-2004), abolition of the state security courts (1997). In 2004 a project called "Don't remain silent against torture" () was started.
, had to face 60 investigative or penal cases against him in one year; in 2000 the branch in Izmir
had the same number of cases initiated against it; because of speeches in 1995 and 1996 the then president of the HRA, Akın Birdal
, was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment, of which he served 14 months.
Furthermore, the HRA lists 14 members who were killed. On May 12, 1998, Akın Birdal barely survived an assassination attempt, when two assailants fired 13 shots at him in the office of the association. On November 25, 1999 a group of 30 to 35 persons close to the Nationalist Movement Party
(MHP) stormed into the office and beat the new President Hüsnü Öndül. Repeatedly Amnesty International
issued urgent actions
to draw attention and prevent threats against human rights activists of the HRA, e.g. for Eren Keskin
, chairman of the branch in Istanbul.
In July
2005 founder Adalet Ağaoğlu
left the association due to its connection with the PKK
which is classified as a terrorist organization. She also accused the association of having a Kurdish racist
-nationalist attitude and further for not being able of criticizing the PKK
.
Human rights in Turkey
Human rights in Turkey are theoretically protected by a variety of international law treaties, which take precedence over domestic legislation, according to Article 90 of the 1982 Constitution....
, founded in 1986 and headquartered in Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
.
History
The HRA was founded on July 17, 1986 by 98 people, comprising lawyerLawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
s, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
s, intellectual
Intellectual
An intellectual is a person who uses intelligence and critical or analytical reasoning in either a professional or a personal capacity.- Terminology and endeavours :"Intellectual" can denote four types of persons:...
s, but mainly relatives of political prisoner
Political prisoner
According to the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, a political prisoner is ‘someone who is in prison because they have opposed or criticized the government of their own country’....
s. The Human Rights Association works on all kind of human rights, but is mainly focused on abuses in Turkey. In 1992 the statute was changed to cover humanitarian aspects as laid out in the Geneva Conventions
Geneva Conventions
The Geneva Conventions comprise four treaties, and three additional protocols, that establish the standards of international law for the humanitarian treatment of the victims of war...
. Since then the HRA has also criticized human violations of armed groups.
Structure and campaigns
Official figures of the HRA claim 10,000 members, in 29 branches in 81 provinces of TurkeyProvinces of Turkey
Turkey is divided into 81 provinces, called il in Turkish .A province is administered by an appointed governor , and was formerly termed a "governorate" ....
. The 24 board members are elected for terms of two years on the association's general assembly. The headquarters in Ankara as well as many branches (in particular the branches in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
and Diyarbakir
Diyarbakir
Diyarbakır is one of the largest cities in southeastern Turkey...
) are running commissions according to the need. The commission cover subjects such as the Kurdish question
Kurds in Turkey
Ethnic Kurds compose a significant portion of the population in Turkey . Unlike the Turks, the Kurds speak an Indo-European language...
, women, children, prisons and torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
.
Some of the large number of campaigns of the HRA were: freedom of expression
Censorship in Turkey
Censorship in Turkey is largely focused on "insults to Turkishness" and expressions of political extremism. Censorship in Turkey is regulated by domestic and international legislation, which takes precedence over domestic law according to Article 90 of the Constitution following its amendment in...
(2001), general amnesty for prisoners (1999), abolition of the death penalty (abolished in 2002-2004), abolition of the state security courts (1997). In 2004 a project called "Don't remain silent against torture" () was started.
Persecution
Since its foundation the HRA has been facing state intervention into its work, but also direct violence of individuals or nationalist groups. HRA website claims 400 court cases against executives of the association; the governors of some provinces ordered the closure of branches 30 times; the chairman of the branch in Diyarbakir that stayed close between 1997 and 2000, Osman BaydemirOsman Baydemir
Osman Baydemir is a Kurdish politician, lawyer and human rights activist in east Turkey. He is the current mayor of his home town of Diyarbakır and member of the Peace and Democracy Party .-Life and career:...
, had to face 60 investigative or penal cases against him in one year; in 2000 the branch in Izmir
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
had the same number of cases initiated against it; because of speeches in 1995 and 1996 the then president of the HRA, Akın Birdal
Akın Birdal
Akın Birdal is a Member of Parliament of the Peace and Democracy Party for Diyarbakır, Turkey....
, was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment, of which he served 14 months.
Furthermore, the HRA lists 14 members who were killed. On May 12, 1998, Akın Birdal barely survived an assassination attempt, when two assailants fired 13 shots at him in the office of the association. On November 25, 1999 a group of 30 to 35 persons close to the Nationalist Movement Party
Nationalist Movement Party
The Nationalist Movement Party , is a far-right political party in Turkey.In the 2002 general elections, the party had lost its 129 seats as it had won only 8.34% of the national vote...
(MHP) stormed into the office and beat the new President Hüsnü Öndül. Repeatedly Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
issued urgent actions
Action alert
An action alert is a message that an organization sends to mobilize people - often members of their group and supports of a specific point of view - calling on them to take action to influence public policy. Typically, action alerts are in reference to a timely issue, where prompt action is needed...
to draw attention and prevent threats against human rights activists of the HRA, e.g. for Eren Keskin
Eren Keskin
Eren Keskin is a lawyer and human rights activist in Turkey.She is vice-president of the Turkish Human Rights Association and a former president of its Istanbul branch....
, chairman of the branch in Istanbul.
In July
July
July is the seventh month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with the length of 31 days. It is, on average, the warmest month in most of the Northern hemisphere and the coldest month in much of the Southern hemisphere...
2005 founder Adalet Ağaoğlu
Adalet Ağaoğlu
Adalet Ağaoğlu is a Turkish novelist and playwright.-Publishing career:As an author, a playwright and a human rights activist, she became one of the most prized novelists of Turkey...
left the association due to its connection with the PKK
Kurdistan Workers' Party
The Kurdistan Workers' Party , commonly known as PKK, also known as KGK and formerly known as KADEK or KONGRA-GEL , is a Kurdish organization which has since 1984 been fighting an armed struggle against the Turkish state for an autonomous Kurdistan and greater cultural and political rights...
which is classified as a terrorist organization. She also accused the association of having a Kurdish racist
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
-nationalist attitude and further for not being able of criticizing the PKK
Kurdistan Workers' Party
The Kurdistan Workers' Party , commonly known as PKK, also known as KGK and formerly known as KADEK or KONGRA-GEL , is a Kurdish organization which has since 1984 been fighting an armed struggle against the Turkish state for an autonomous Kurdistan and greater cultural and political rights...
.
Publications
- Annual Reports 1990-2006 (Turkish)
- Annual Reports 1990-1996 (English)
- Annual Reports 1997-2003, 2005 (translated)
- Annual Reports of the Treatment Centers (up to 2006 in Turkish)
- Annual Reports of the Treatment Centers (up to 2005 in English)
Special Reports (Books)
- File on Torture – Deaths in Detention Places or Prisons 12 September 1980-1994 (Turkish-English), second edition up to 1985
- The Report on the Health Services and Health Personnel’s Problems in the Southeast (English)
- Freedom of Expression and Migration (Turkish)
- HRFT on Trial 1998 (Turkish)
- Manuel on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment – Istanbul Protocol (Turkish-English)
- Torture and Impunity 2005 (Turkish-English)