President Bashar al-Assad, Office of the President, Damascus Syria

Mr. President:

I am William Nicholas Gomes, Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com.

I came to know about the situation from Front Line Defenders.

Khalil Matouk is a prominent human rights lawyer who provides legal assistance to victims of human rights abuses in Syria, including to fellow human rights defenders. Khalil Matouk, who is a member of the Syrian Bar Association, is also the executive director of the Syrian Centre for Legal Studies and Research.

Moreover, the human rights defender is suffering from a serious lung disease and he is in need of constant medical care due to his precarious condition. Just a few days before his arrest he had been abroad to receive treatment for his health problems.

I abhor the arrest and detention of Khalil Matouk and expresses concern for his physical and psychological integrity. I believe that Khalil Matouk’s arrest and detention are solely motivated by his advocacy for human rights in Syria and his essential role in providing legal assistance to victims of human rights abuses in Syria.

I urge the authorities in the Syria to:

1. Immediately disclose the whereabouts of Khalil Matouk, and release him immediately and unconditionally, as it is believed that his arrest and detention are solely motivated by his legitimate and peaceful human rights work;

2. Ensure that the treatment of Khalil Matouk, while in detention, adheres to all those conditions set out in the ‘Basic Principles for Treatment of Prisoners, adopted by General Assembly resolution 45/111 of 14 December 1990′, and grant him immediate and unfettered access to his family and legal representatives as well as to the necessary medical treatment;

3. Guarantee under all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Syria are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including arbitrary arrest.

AUTHOR: William Nicholas Gomes
URL: www.williamgomes.org
E-MAIL: williamgomes.org [at] gmail.com

President Hu Jintao, The State Council General Office, People’s Republic of China

Your Excellency,

I am William Nicholas Gomes, Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com.

I came to know about the situation from Front Line Defenders.

On 30 September 2012 Shanghai-based human rights defender Ms Mao Hengfeng was detained while petitioning in Beijing. She was apprehended by non-uniformed men and forcibly sent back to Shanghai, where she is being held on suspicion of “gathering a crowd to disturb public order”. Mao Hengfeng is a veteran rights defender and petitioner who has spent periods of time in re-education through labour, prison, psychiatric hospitals and under house arrest as a result of her activism.

According to her husband, Mr Wu Xuewei, at approximately 2pm on 30 September, Mao Hengfeng observed that she was under surveillance by two plainclothes men as she waited for a bus at a Beijing bus station. Shortly thereafter, Wu Xuewei told Chinese Human Rights Defenders that he had lost contact with his wife and repeated attempts to contact her by mobile phone were unsuccessful. Previous to this, Mao Hengfeng had been in regular contact with her family to assure them of her well-being, and four days earlier had noticed that she was being followed. On 2 October Wu Xuewei reportedly received the criminal detention notice concerning his wife which informed him that she is being detained on suspicion of “gathering a crowd to disturb public order”.

Wu Xuewei believes the charges against Mao Hengfeng relate to activities carried out by her in January 2012 to commemorate the death of a petitioner who died in a black jail in 2008. It is further believed that she is only now being targeted in an effort to ensure that she will not be in Beijing at the time of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party, which will convene on 8 November 2012. This event will see the changeover of power at the top of the Communist Party. In advance of this, human rights defenders are being arbitrarily subjected to increased restrictions including detention, house arrest and forced travel.

Mao Hengfeng is a long-term human rights defender who has a history of drawing attention to forced abortions and forced evictions. Following earlier stints in jail and psychiatric hospitals because of her activities, she was sentenced to 18 months re-education through labour in March 2010 for “disturbing public order”. This charge related to a protest she held outside a courthouse in support of fellow human rights defender and Nobel laureate Mr Liu Xiaobo when he was being sentenced to 11 years imprisonment on 25 December 2009. Mao Hengfeng has been repeatedly subjected to abuse while in detention.

I believe that the detention of Mao Hengfeng is directly related to her work in defence of human rights. Given her previous history of abuse while in detention, I am seriously concerned for her physical and psychological integrity.

I urge the authorities in China to:

1. Immediately and unconditionally release Mao Hengfeng as I believe that she is being held solely as a result of her legitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights;

2. Immediately take all necessary measure to guarantee the physical and psychological safety and integrity of Mao Hengfeng while in detention;

3. Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders in China are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions, including judicial harassment.

AUTHOR: William Nicholas Gomes
URL: www.williamgomes.org
E-MAIL: williamgomes.org [at] gmail.com

President Islam Karimov, Office of the President, Uzbekistan

Your Excellency,

I am William Nicholas Gomes, Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com

I came to know about the situation from Front Line Defender.

On 27 September 2012, human rights defender Ms Gulshan Karaeva was arrested in her home in Qarshi and taken to a local police station where she was informed of charges brought against her. Gulshan Karaeva is Chairperson of the Kashkadarya regional branch of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU). She was released on the same day after four hours’ detention at the police station.

Gulshan Karaeva was told at the police station that she had been charged under two articles of the Criminal Code: article 139, “Slander”, and article 140, “Insult”. These charges are based on allegations by two women who Gulshan Karaeva suspects of working for the National Security Service (SNB). These two women attacked members of the human rights defender’s family on 19 July 2012, and later have accused Gulshan Karaeva of calling them prostitutes, although the human rights defender denies ever having made such statements. Gulshan Karaeva was detained for four hours at the police station, after which she was released.

Gulshan Karaeva has previously been the subject of threats and intimidation. On 19 May 2012, two women attacked the human rights defender in a local shop, beating her on the head. The attackers attempted to take her outside of the shop but she managed to seek help and the two women were removed from the shop. That same day, unknown persons sprayed the gate and walls of the human rights defender’s home and that of her neighbour, with explicit and abusive graffiti. These incidents are believed to be related to Gulshan Karaeva’s public statement issued on 5 May 2012, in which she declared that she had refused a proposal of cooperation put to her by the SNB.

On 7 July 2011, Gulshan Karaeva’s dog was poisoned. In addition to this, she received threatening phone calls from unknown individuals. The following day, she was attacked by Mr Arif Pardayev, a resident of Kashkadarya region, who was travelling in the same taxi as the human rights defender from Tashkent to Qarshi.

In light of the previous threats, physical attacks and intimidation directed at Gulshan Karaeva, I express serious concern for her security, and her physical and psychological integrity as well as that of her children, one of whom is disabled. I view these charges as part of an ongoing campaign of threats and intimidation against Gulshan Karaeva, as a result of her legitimate and peaceful human rights work in Uzbekistan.

I call upon the authorities of Uzbekistan to:

1. Immediately drop all charges against Gulshan Karaeva as it is believed that they are solely motivated by her legitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights;

2. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of Gulshan Karaeva, as well as that of her family members;

3. Take measures to ensure that all human rights defenders in Uzbekistan, while carrying out their legitimate work in the defence of human rights, are able to operate without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions and reprisals, including judicial harassment.

AUTHOR: William Nicholas Gomes
URL: www.williamgomes.org
E-MAIL: williamgomes.org [at] gmail.com

H.E. Mrs. Alice Thomas Samaan, Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain, United Kingdom

Your Excellency,

I am William Nicholas Gomes, Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com

I came to know about the situation from Front Line Defenders.

I am writing to express my concern and request your intervention in the following case.

On 2 October 2012, six medical professionals and human rights defenders were arrested after their homes were subjected to early morning raids in Bahrain. This followed the decision on 1 October 2012 of the Bahrain Court of Cassation in Manama to uphold the sentences imposed upon nine medical professionals in spite of unfair trials and the use of torture.

The six arrested are Dr. Ali Al Ekri (sentenced to five years); Mr. Ibrahim Al Demistani (three years); Dr. Ghassan Dhaif (one year); Dr. Saeed Al Samahiji (one year); Dr. Mahmoud Asghar (six months); and Ms. Dheya Ibrahim Abu Idris (two months). They were convicted on unsubstantiated charges including promoting the change of the political regime by force, instigating sectarian hatred and illegal detention of persons.

The doctors were detained, tortured and prosecuted together with a group of over 40 medics in 2011 because they provided emergency medical attention to injured demonstrators and because they spoke out about the injuries they had seen. The torture of the doctors and the unfair trials they faced before military courts was documented in the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI). Following domestic and international protests they were released pending an appeal before civil courts. The appeal process again failed to meet international fair trial standards but did lead to reduced sentences and some acquittals. It is the revised sentences against nine of the medics which were upheld by the Court of Cassation on 1 October.

I strongly condemn the decision to uphold and implement these sentences and express concern at the ongoing harassment of medical professionals in Bahrain. I believe that they have been sentenced and imprisoned solely as a result of their legitimate and peaceful medical and human rights work.

I urge the authorities in Bahrain to:

1. Immediately and unconditionally release all the medical professionals and overturn all their convictions, as it is believed that their sentencing and imprisonment are solely motivated by their peaceful and legitimate medical and human rights work;

2. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of all the medical professionals and their families;

3. Cease targeting all medical professionals and human rights defenders in Bahrain and guarantee in all circumstances that they are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.

AUTHOR: William Nicholas Gomes
URL: www.williamgomes.org
E-MAIL: williamgomes.org [at] gmail.com

Yacine Zaid

H.E. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President; Minister of National Defence, Algiers

Your Excellency,

I am William Nicholas Gomes,Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com

I came to know about the situation from Front Line Defenders.

On the morning of 1 October 2012, human rights defender Mr Yacine Zaid was arrested and brutally beaten by three policemen in Ouargla.

At the time of his arrest, he was travelling on a bus with Mr. Aibek Abdelmalek, a member of the Comité National pour la Défense des Droits des Chômeurs – CNDDC (National Committee for the Defence of the Rights of the Unemployed). At approximately 09:30 AM, three policemen in civilian attire forced them to disembark the bus and they proceeded to insult, interrogate and beat Mr Yacine Zaid, all whilst he was handcuffed. He was then placed in a white Nissan 4×4 and taken to an unknown location.

Mr Yacine Zaid is President of the Laghouat section of the Ligue Algérienne pour la défense des droits de l’Homme – LADDH (Algerian League for the Defence of Human Rights) and a participant in the 2011 Front Line Defenders Dublin Platform.

I believe that the arbitrary arrest and beating of Mr Yacine Zaid were directly related to his legitimate and peaceful work in the defence of human rights. Yacine Zaid’s human rights work included a peaceful sit-down protest in front of the Court of Sidi Mohamed in Algiers last April calling for the release of fellow human rights defender Mr Abdelkader Kherba, who has also been the subject of appeals.

I urge the authorities in Algeria to:

1. Immediately and unconditionally release Yacine Zaid, as it is believed that his arrest and detention are solely motivated by his peaceful and legitimate human rights work;

2. Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the arrest and beating of human rights defender Yacine Zaid, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;

3. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of Yacine Zaid;

4. Cease targeting all human rights defenders in Algeria and guarantee in all circumstances that they are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.

AUTHOR: William Nicholas Gomes
URL: www.williamgomes.org
E-MAIL: williamgomes.org [at] gmail.com

President Islam Karimov, Office of the President, Uzbekistan

Your Excellency,

I am William Nicholas Gomes, Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com.

I came to know about the situation from Front Line Defenders.

On 30 September 2012, at approximately 10:00 am, human rights defender Mr Uktam Pardayev was beaten and arrested at a service station in the town of Djizak by several armed policemen. Since his arrest, relatives of the human rights defender have been denied any information regarding his situation or whereabouts. Uktam Pardayev is the Chairperson of the Independent Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (IHRSU) in the region of Djizak.

On 30 September Uktam Pardayev entered a service station on Tashkentskaya street in the town of Djizak, in his car, when three policemen who were present suddenly ordered that the station be closed and told the human rights defender not to move. They refused to explain to Uktam Pardayev the reason for this order, and additional police officers were called in. Minutes later, four more uniformed policemen arrived in a second car, after which Uktam Pardayev was beaten, forced into a white Zhiguli car and driven off in an unknown direction.

Since the time of his arrest, Uktam Pardayev’s relatives have been refused information about the human rights defender’s whereabouts. They have visited the city police stations, the local office of the Department of Interior Affairs, and the national security office. Uktam Pardayev’s brother handed out written requests to inform them about his brother’s whereabouts, which was accepted by the Department of Interior Affairs, but refused by the national security office.

Calls by Uktam Pardayev’s relatives to police officers have not been answered. Only at midnight on 1 October was Uktam Pardayev’s brother able to connect with the district policeman of Khandzor district, who told him not to bother and that nothing bad was going to happen to the human rights defender. Front Line Defenders tried to talk to the same policeman, but after hearing the name Uktam Pardayev, the policeman hung the phone. In a phone call to the Djizak prosecutor’s office, the prosecutor’s assistant answered that they would find out what is happening.

In mid-September 2012, Uktam Pardayev was followed by a white Daewoo Nexia car by persons in plainclothes. On 8 September, neighbours of the human rights defender were visited by officers from the Department of Internal Affairs and questioned about Uktam Pardeyev’s movements and contacts. On 30 August, Uktam Pardayev’s house was visited by police officers, who in a later phone call reported having been sent by the Department of Interior Affairs, and the human rights defender’s mother was asked for his phone number.

Uktam Pardayev has previously indicated he believes these measures started after a visit to his house by officials from the American Embassy about his Human Rights work.

In addition to this, Uktam Pardayev has been continuously denied an exit visa since the start of his application in December 2011. During an interview for his application on 25 January 2012, he was questioned by an unnamed security official about the type of human rights activities he was involved in. On 11 June 2012, the Djizak Inter-District Court refused to consider Uktam Pardayev’s appeal against the denial of his visa application on the ground that it was outside of the court’s jurisdiction. On 29 August 2012, the Regional Court of Djizak, overruled the decision of the court of first instance and sent the appeal back to be heard by the court.

I believe Uktam Pardayev’s arrest is part of an ongoing pattern of harassment against the human rights defender.

I call upon the authorities of Uzbekistan to:

1. Immediately reveal the exact whereabouts of human rights defender Uktam Pardayev, and release him immediately and unconditionally, as it is believed that he has been targeted as a result of his legitimate human rights activities;

2. Ensure that the treatment of Uktam Pardayev, while in detention, adheres to all those conditions set out in the ‘Basic Principles for Treatment of Prisoners, adopted by General Assembly resolution 45/111 of 14 December 1990′, and grant him immediate and unfettered access to his family and legal representatives;

3. Take measures to ensure that all human rights defenders in Uzbekistan, while carrying out their legitimate work in the defence of human rights, are able to operate without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions and reprisals.

AUTHOR: William Nicholas Gomes
URL: www.williamgomes.org
E-MAIL: williamgomes.org [at] gmail.com

Hina Rabbani Khar

“Mr. Gomes must be appreciated on taking a principled stand, exposing Such mischief makers. Hats off to you Mr.Gomes” – S.M.K Durrani

The recent series of news on so called love affair between Pakistani foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar and co-chairman of Pakistan People’s Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari by Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury is perfect example of propaganda covertly packaged as credible news without sufficient transparency concerning the news item’s source and the motivation behind its release is very defamatory.

The news propaganda by salah uddin shoaib choudhury has violated the ‘ideal’ mission of journalism.

What Salah Uddin Shoiab choudhury has done in criminal law it is clear a fraud and is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual and very clearly defamatory in type.

Salah Uddin Shoiab choudhury engaged in borderline defamatory conduct, spreading innuendo about so called love affair between Pakistani foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar and co-chairman of Pakistan People’s Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari that injured reputations of high profile politicians.

People from all around the world has condemned the yellow journalism of Salah Uddin Shoiab choudhury. Thanks for information about yellow Journalist.Hina Rubbani Khar are married with my friend and she will ignore all baseless reports.
Regards
Syed Zafar

Mr Williams has written a very good rejoinder; But I am sorry none has come our friends in Pakistan. Hina is an honourable woman, who has proved to be an excellent foreign Minister. This is just to let her down. Mr William Thanks once again
Muhammad Shahbaz Thuthaal
EME CHS
Multan road,Lahore

Mr. Gomes must be appreciated on taking a principled stand, exposing Such mischief makers. Hats off to you Mr.Gomes
S.M.K Durrani

Mr Gomes thank you for exposing the riff raff that destroy the image of the press. The foreign minister is of impeccable character and to strike her unfairly in this preposterous manner was repulsive to say the least. .
Best
Imran Husain

Dear All: Irrespective of the stories being published in the foreign and local press with regard to the so called affair of Bilawal Bhutto and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, our journalists must always remember that great nations always keep high the considerations of their fame in the comity of the nations and esteem of their leaders; and that their great profession strictly warranted full compliance of the popular norms of professional ethics and our moral values. Ironically enough amid mushroom growth of the media industry in Pakistan the professional standard is fast on the decline wherein even the so called leading anchorpersons and editors have no capability to distinguish between the vicious propaganda and hard information; and that as to how such information could be useful for the public at large and its potential to pollute the patriotic sentiments of the nation especially the youth which is the future of Pakistan. In Britain the periodicals and dailies which are notorious for such filthy stuff is called gutter press; but in Pakistan even the so called big shots of our media have mixed up serious and gutter press; it is the high time for all and sundry to come forward to help rebuild the foundations of moral values and ethics of our noble profession.
ASLAM BUTT

I do not know Hina Khar personally, but professionally, what I have noticed about her is that she is a very sensible, level-headed young woman who has been doing quite a commendable job as Foreign Minister of our crisis-ridden country. She, perhaps, has more substance in her than all the rest of our bloated Cabinet put together. I am sure she has more sense than to be carrying on with an immature boy, but even if she is having an affair with Bilawal Bhutto, it is her own business and the business of her husband, NOT of gutter journalists who have nothing better to do than to wallow in the filth created in their own dirty minds. Let the poor woman do her work in peace. She already has more than enough on her plate…!!! Sheree Sardar
Senior Producer, Reuters Television (Pakistan)
Thomson Reuters

I fully agree to Sheree…there are few examples in MEN’s tribe who simply cannot see any woman going ahead of the parameters ,THEY,define for her…and if happens so…THEY launch character assasination move…It is so unfortunate
Rashida Sohail

AUTHOR: William Nicholas Gomes
URL: www.williamgomes.org
E-MAIL: williamgomes.org [at] gmail.com

According to bdnews24, on 30th September 2012, seven Buddhist Viharas, around 30 houses and shops were torched in the attacks that started at 11:30pm and lasted until around 4am on 1st of October. More than a hundred houses and shops were also reportedly attacked, vandalized and looted.

My sources inside Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) shared sensational inside story and background of the per-planned attack on the Buddhists in Cox’s Bazaar’s Ramu Upazila.

The whole attack was engineered by special unit of Indian Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) in coordination with DGFI.

A special team of monitoring the social media in the DGFI and R&AW were closely monitoring the social media to monitor the ongoing protest on anti Islam film in different parts of Bangladesh on social media.

The government was facing challenge to tackle the protest on anti Islam movie in different parts of the country
The social media monitor team within the intelligence agency noticed that different people were tagged different photos related anti Islam movie and defaming Holy Quran , Uttam Barua was tagged in the photo from a Facebook ID called ‘Insult Allah’.

The special units of R&AW consult with concern people in prime minister’s office ask to run special operation named “Operation Tango”.

The main aim of operation tango was to spread the violence in hill district, specifically on the Buddhist and Hindu minorities.

Selected officials were called immediately from different detachments of DGFI that includes Coxs’ Bazar, Khagrachari, Rangamati, Bandarban and Chittagong.

They were briefed, how to implement the operation tango. They special team of army commando were send to vandalized a village of Buddhists in Cox’s Bazaar’s Ramu Upazila early on 30th September 2012.

Cox’s Bazaar district’s Superintendent of Police Selim Mohammed Jahangir was informed earlier by the tango team to remain silent while tango team run the operation and police were on high alert that tango team can successfully end the operation.

Special units of R&AW informed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier that operation tango will help to get the sympathy of minorities.

They also briefed that minorities are your vote bank, before election this attack will benefit you in all ways
They also briefed BNP had embraced the government over Rohingya Muslims issue and it’s a proper time to use the situation while the opposition is protesting over anti islam movie.

The tango team had suggested spreading attacks on minorities in different minority populated areas all over the country and that will continue one after another.

A team of media professionals were briefed earlier to run continuous news propaganda naming the violence as an effort to Islamize the hill area and the opposition parties specifically BNP is behind the communal attack.

While the ruling government is playing dirty game on the life of minorities with the Indian intelligence R&AW , minorities are paying a high cost.

AUTHOR: William Nicholas Gomes
URL: www.williamgomes.org
E-MAIL: williamgomes.org [at] gmail.com

Hina Rabbani Khar

Yellow journalist Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury has recently propagated falsehood against foreign minister of Pakistan Hina Rabbani Khar.

He claims that Weekly Blitz is a tabloid newspaper published in Bangladesh every Wednesday but in reality it is not available in the market.

Yellow journalist Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury has cheated many people among them two women who came in public and flashed his criminal face.

Brenda West wrote “Choudhury operates a shady website called Jethro Conglomerate, for which a scam alert has been posted by an organization that regulates the business dealings of the commodities Choudhury sells. (In case you are curious or are impressed with Choudhury’s interest in things Jewish, Jethro is the Hebrew word for Choudhury’s preferred moniker, Shoaib.) Choudhury states on the Jethro Conglomerates website that he represents a company called Noca. Noca itself does not seem legitimate. It is not licensed. It provides no information about who owns or runs the company. The representatives they do list could be of interest to law enforcement. The Noca site says it is located in Canada but it gives an unpublished Nevada phone number. There is an odor of mobster activity connected with this enterprise, as well as Choudhury’s involvement in it. As we shall see in Choudhury’s published resume, Choudhury worked closely with the indicted mobster, Aziz Mohammed Bhai, who fled Bangladesh in 2009 to avoid imprisonment for various charges, including murder.”

Brenda West wrote “In June 2011 Tass (info@itar-tass.com) spokeswoman Lora Potopova confirmed in an email and subsequent phone conversation with this reporter that the wire service never had a bureau in Bangladesh, and had no record of employ for Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury — as a stringer or otherwise. Potopova reported that her thorough search of all Tass branches found no trace of Choudhury or a Tass office in Bangladesh. “

Using the banner of media outlet Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury is running his criminal business for years.
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury has coined the falsehood. Weekly blitz is a part of a syndicate of Hindustan times. The propaganda was subsequently reported by Hindustan times and other India media.

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury became successful in his plan when it was published in India and then he started lobbying with the friends in Bangladeshi media to get it reported in different media outlets.

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury is deliberately running this falsehood against Hina Rabbani Khar and Bilawal Bhutto to be discussed by international media to use that discussion for further criminal business.

AUTHOR: William Nicholas Gomes
URL: www.williamgomes.org
E-MAIL: williamgomes.org [at] gmail.com

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister, Turkey, receptayyip.erdogan@basbakanlik.gov.tr

Dear Prime Minister,

I am William Nicholas Gomes, Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com.

I came to know that OMCT  has been informed by reliable sources about the arbitrary arrest of Mr. Ali Tanrıverdi, Chairperson of the Mersin Branch of the Human Rights Association (İnsan Haklari Derneği – İHD).

According to the information received, in the early morning of September 25, 2012, police teams of Mersin Security Directorate carried out simultaneous raids in the province of Mersin, in the context of operations targeting the Kurdish Communities Union (KCK) – an organisation said to be the “urban branch” of the armed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). These operations resulted in the arrest of at least 42 people, including Mr. Ali Tanrıverdi, together with journalists and members of the Kurdish political party Peace and Democracy Party (BDP). Mr. Ali Tanrıverdi’s house was raided while the office of İHD was simultaneously searched for four hours and electronic devices were seized, without any search warrant being produced and while the executives of the organisation were not present. Mr. Tanrıverdi was reportedly not allowed to call his lawyer during the raid on his house, and he and other detainees were informed that they would not be authorised to consult their lawyers during 24 hours.

I recall that this new wave of arbitrary arrests and detentions is part of a wide-range anti-terrorism operation, initiated in 2009 and intended to dismantle the KCK as an alleged “terrorist network”. In fact, this campaign has targeted dozens of peaceful activists who have been involved in advocating for a peaceful resolution of the Kurdish issue and are not involved in any terrorist acts. These peaceful activists include human rights defenders in Turkey, particularly İHD members, members of trade unions, lawyers and journalists.

Consequently, I recall that 12 other İHD members are currently in pre-trial detention pending the outcome of trials on spurious terrorism-related charges: Messrs. Muharrem Erbey and Arslan Özdemir, Diyarbakır Branch Executives; Messrs. Şerif Süren and Orhan Çiçek, Aydın Branch Executives; Mr. Reşit Teymur, Siirt Branch Executive; Mr. Abdulkadir Çurğatay and Ms. Veysi Parıltı, Mardin Branch Executives; Doğubeyazıt Representative Şaziye Önder; Mr. Mensur Işık Muş, former Branch Chairperson; Mr. Hikmet Kapancı, Malatya Executive; Mr. Bekir Gürbüz, Adıyaman Branch former Chairperson and Mr. Osman Işçi, former staff of the General Centre.

Accordingly, I call upon the Turkish authorities to put an end to the continuing harassment of human rights defenders and urges the Turkish authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all human rights defenders currently held in detention, since their detention is arbitrary as it only aim at sanctioning their human rights activities.

Actions requested:

i. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Messrs. Ali Tanrıverdi, as well as that of all human rights defenders in Turkey;

ii. Release immediately and unconditionally Messrs. Ali Tanrıverdi, as well as all human rights defenders since their detention is arbitrary as it only aim at sanctioning their human rights activities;

iii. Put an end to all acts harassment, including at the judicial level, against Messrs. Ali Tanrıverdi, as well as against all human rights defenders in Turkey;

i. Comply with the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, especially its Article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”, as well as Article 12.2, which provides that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration” ;

ii. More generally, ensure in all circumstances the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international and regional human rights instruments ratified by Turkey.

AUTHOR: William Nicholas Gomes
URL: www.williamgomes.org
E-MAIL: williamgomes.org [at] gmail.com