[url=http://hra.am/arm/?page=issue&id=17667 target=_blank]In Armenian[/url]

FIDH mission in Turkey - Summary report

«Turkey must end the impunity of political violence»

Paris, February 13th 2008 - The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
undertook a mission in Istanbul, Turkey, from February 9 to 11, 2008, on the
occasion of the third hearing of the Hrant Dink murder trial, the founder and
editor-in-chief of the Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos newspaper, who was shot dead
in front of his office on 19 January 2007. This mission was deployed in
follow-up to FIDH's mobilisation alongside Hrant Dink's family and lawyers, and
in support of their struggle for Justice.

Following the third hearing, FIDH welcomes the filming of the proceedings, as
transparency is an essential element to guarantee the fairness of the procedure.
Nevertheless, FIDH Secretary General Florence Bellivier calls the Turkish
authorities « to ensure full access to the documents related to the case to the
lawyers of Dink's family, in particular the results of the investigation into
the behaviour of State security agents».

In parallel to this case, FIDH wishes to express its satisfaction following the
arrest, on January 22nd, and the opening of a judicial investigation against a
group of ultra-nationalist individuals who would belong to the illegal
paramilitary group Ergenekon. Among them is Mr. Veli Küçük, a retired general of
the Turkish army.

Without prejudice to the results of the investigation, FIDH welcomes the opening
of proceedings against individuals whose names have appeared repeatedly in a
number of cases of political violence, notably the murder of Hrant Dink, the
massacre of a Christian pastor and two of his practitioners in Malatya on April
18th 2007, and the killing of a Catholic Priest on February 4th 2006 in Trabzon.
« FIDH hopes that these investigations will enable the determination of higher
levels of responsibility in the instigation of these crimes, and break the cycle
of political violence » said Secretary General Florence Bellivier.

Beyond the trial, the mission was an opportunity to discuss several of the main
human rights violations that Turkey is facing today. In this respect, FIDH
wishes to highlight the following:

• The Kurdish Question.
  FIDH and its member organisation the Human Rights Association (İnsan Hakları
  Derneği, IHD) express their deep preoccupation at the continuous human rights
  violations in the South-Eastern provinces. The organisations are particularly
  preoccupied by the bombing of civilian areas, in violation of fundamental
  principles of international human rights and humanitarian law. The organisations
  repeat their call to the authorities for a political and pacific settlement of
  the Kurdish Question, and urge the government to open talks with Kurdish
  organisations and civil society in this respect.
• Freedom of opinion and expression.
  FIDH repeats its call for the abolition of Article 301 of the Penal Code.
  Freedom of expression should not be criminalised and Turkey should conform with
  the recommendations addressed by all UN special rapporteurs and treaty bodies in
  this respect. Newspapers such as Free-Agenda (Özgür Gündem), documenting the
  situation of Kurdish or other minorities as well as the consequences of the
  conflict in the South East, should be able to publish their stories.
• Situation of human rights defenders
  FIDH is worried about the continuous harassment of human rights defenders,
  intellectuals and journalists who promote human rights. As documented by the
  Observatory for the protection of Human Rights defenders (FIDH-OMCT), Mr. Ethem
  Açikalin, the Chair of IHD's section in Adana, as well as the former chair and
  an Administrator of the Ankara section remain under arbitrary detention. FIDH
  calls for their immediate release. FIDH further remains preoccupied at the
  judicial harassment against the Vice-President of the IHD, Ms Reyhan Yalçındağ,
  the pending court case to close down the Mersin section of IHD (in South Turkey,
  as well as with the prosecution of members of the National Commission on Human
  rights, professors Mr. Ibrahim Kaboglu and Mr. Baskin Oran, for having published
  a report on Minorities in Turkey. FIDH calls for the suspension of all charges
  in these trials.
• Counter-terrorism and human Rights, use of torture.
  FIDH is
  finally worried about information reported by its member organisation the
  Human Rights Foundation of Turkey, on the broad and vague definition of the
  acts defined under the Anti-terror Act, in violation of the principle of
  legality of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The
  organisations further deplore the continuous use of torture in impunity or
  the light sentences resulting from the few condemnations. They call upon the
  Turkish authorities to comply with the recommendations of the UN Independent
  Expert on counter-terrorism and human rights, as well as the UN Special
  Rapporteur on Torture.

Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'Homme

International Federation for Human Rights

tel: (331) 43 55 25 18 / fax : (331) 43 55 18 80

17, passage de la main d'or - 75011 Paris – France

E. MAIL: fidh@fidh.org / site INTERNET:
http://www.fidh.org