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Quite some interesting information and news from the Kurdish regions – Bakur (Turkey), Başȗr (Iraq), Rojava (Syria) and Rojhilat (Iran) – is rarely, if ever, reported by the mainstream media.
The Kurdish Institute tries to fill this gap by reporting on a regular basis through its own news page recent facts and events, both from the Kurdish regions and from the rest of the world.
Turkish referendum: Erdogan’s opportunity to open dialogue with Kurds
Reacting to the results of a referendum in which Turkish citizens adopted a revision of parts of the constitution as proposed by Prime Minister Erdogan. GUE/NGL President Lothar Bisky said:
Turkey: Court of Appeals Approves Sentence against 54 Kurdish Mayors
The Court of Appeals approved monetary fines imposed on 54 mayors, members of the shut-down Democratic Society Party, who had been convicted on the grounds of a letter sent to former Danish Prime Minister Rasmussen to protest the closure of the Kurdish Roj TV.
Winners: AKP and BDP; Losers: CHP and MHP
In the referendum held on the 30th anniversary of the Sept. 12, 1980, military coup, 58 percent of voters backed the 26 constitutional amendments proposed by the AKP in power while 42 percent opposed the changes. However 23 percent of the voters in Turkey refused to go to polls, an indication that the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP)'s call to boycott the vote was influential. So this party confirmed once again that it is the only legal representative of the majority of the Kurdish population in the country.
Petition Campaign For Imprisoned Writer Dogan Akhanli
On 10 August 2010 the writer and human rights defender Dogan Akhanli from Cologne was arrested at an Istanbul airport in the attempt of entry to Turkey; this trip was intended to D. Akhanli’s sick father. According to Akhanli’s lawyer Haydar Erol he has been detained in a prison in the Tekirdag province since 20 August 2010 on the pretext of alleged involvement in a 1989 robbery at an exchange office in Istanbul. “This accusation was based on witness statements, one of which had been made under torture,"said Erol. The supposed second witness – the son of the slain – later denied having ever identified Akhanli in a photograph. "This scenario was produced by the police," said lawyer Erol, in order to try a late accounting with the political left. Despite the relief provided by lawyer Erol at the two habeas corpus dates, a prosecutor requested an indictment against Dogan Akhanli for robbery and homicide. Three prison complaints have so far failed.
Sunday, Dark Anniversary of the 1980 Coup and a Controversial Referendum
September 12, 2010 is the 30th dark anniversary of the 1980 Military Coup, second phase of a process of militarization in all fields of the country. It is also the date of a controversial referendum on a partial revision of the Constitution imposed by the military junta 28 years ago.
Campaign against Imprisonment of Journalists in Turkey
By Louise Hallman, IPI Press Freedom Advisor for Europe
On the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the September 12, 1980 Coup
Black Book on the Militarist "Democracy" in Turkey
56 Children still in Prison during Religious Holidays
Arif Akkaya from the Demanding Justice for Children Group (ÇIAT) announced that 56 children will spend the coming religious holidays at prison.
Erdogan Faces Close Call in Referendum as Kurds Hold Control in Swing Vote, Benjamin Harvey
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was once headed for hero status among Turkey’s Kurdish minority. Now, he’ll settle for being the least bad bet.
